01 April 2012

Hamstring Hurt at BUS Six Hour

I persuaded Wayne, Mary, and Erin to run the Broadway Ultra Society's 6 Hour Race on Saturday. I figured I'd take it easy, do 10 minute miles, as I just ran a 50miler last weekend. I had been feeling tired, but nothing too terrible. However, things went downhill after a while.

Wayne and I started off, running sub 10 minute miles, talking, joking. I was feeling overall pretty crappy - tired, head out of sorts, not that great. But still thought I'd easily run the 6 hour, just complain a lot. (Poor Wayne.) 



We ran into Ray K who was cruising - and my hamstring started feeling a little sore. And then we slowed down to grab food - I was not feeling great nutrition-wise - and then my hamstring got worse. It didn't feel like cramping. It felt BAD. Nothing snapped. But it was painful.


After 3.5 hours, anytime I tried to run, it was painful. Wayne and I walked two laps of the slightly less than a mile loop, and I kept trying to run but pain forced me to stop. I was limping. I had tears in my eyes but I knew what I needed to do.


I stopped.


"I've never DNF'd," I wailed to Wayne. He held me. "You didn't DNF, you can't in a timed race." He also stopped to be with me. "Also, because I'm lazy," he joked.


I did all the things. Epsom salts. Resting. Elevating leg. Stay off feet. Icing. Even alcohol. But nothing is helping. I feel it ever-so-slightly. No 8 hours at Bear Mountain today. But will it heal soon? What can I do? I'm trying to NOT feel panicky...just not sure what to do. So scared. I know I've been lucky - I've trained smart and cross-trained and strength-trained and those things have helped. But now here is a hurt hamstring.


I'm going back to bed with some ice and my leg up on some pillows and a book. And my cat.

2 comments:

Shannon said...

You will heal. We get tired along the way and our bodies let us know when we need rest. If nothing is obviously wrong and it is a nagging problem, but not a crisis you will feel better tomorrow and then next day and soon this will be a memory.

It was very cold and about 2 hours into the run, my hamstring were also feeling tight. I never really have that issue. The chilly air, the little repetive inclines, it adds up.

It was great to see you out there yesterday!

Keep your spirits up! I have faith you will be ok soon!

Shannon

Anonymous said...

Don't feel too bad about the DNF. I did it once, but it was the right decision, even if I felt like a loser. You have to let your body rest sometimes.

/Erin