MRI Results

Today was "D Day" - time to visit the consultant to hear what his evaluation of my MRI scan was.  3 months ago I pulled my hamstring in the last 20 metres of a 53 mile ultra.  I took advice from my physio and have taken it easy using the bike and swimming to keep a reasonable level of fitness but I've always been aware my hamstring wasn't getting better.  There was still swelling behind and at the side of the knee and even walking up stairs I could feel it was far from right.  My concern was that I want to enter the Ocean Floor desert race in Egypt in March and have been accepted but I didn't wanted to pay the deposit until I had a positive verdict.  After all it's not an easy training schedule to get ready for 160 miles in 4 days across a desert.  I also want to enter other challenging races in the same season as I have been extremely frustrated missing out this summer.
The consultant gave me good news and disappointing news.  I've torn my hamstring and may be out for another 2-3 months depending on how I behave myself. No running. No cycling.  And swimming as long as I don't use my legs (no difficulty there then!). Back to some regular yoga and plenty of physio.
The good news, no surgery, no injections and I still have a running "career" as long as I sort it properly. So I now need to find a replacement runner for the 50 mile relay event in August, am unlikely to be ready for the 16 mile race in November and there's an outside chance I can take place in the 10k in November.  But I think my chances of completing a heavy training schedule to race in the desert in March is doubtful.  But it is still my goal and yoga is most likely what will get me there but I'm not going to endanger my long term goals by pushing the hamstring too hard.
Ironically swimming will be my main fitness focus but that makes me more determined to be fit enough for my 10km swim in 6 weeks time.  I am no where near being ready for the distance, I'm up to 2km, and it will be a real challenge.  But now my running and cycling is out, it has made me want to take this challenge on more as there is nothing else I can do (except for the yoga).
I'm fortunate that my hamstring isn't requiring surgery or that I'm being told I won't run again.  That would have been devastating as I have so many races I want to complete in the next ten years.  It also will make me "get my finger" out for the swimming.  I'm looking forward to acquiring a "swimmers shape" due to the amount of training I'll be doing.
But enough about me.  I can't leave without mentioning my 9 ATHelite Triathlon Club pals who all successfully completed the ironman distance Outlaw event at the weekend.  A mixture of ages, sizes and ability took on the toughest of challenges (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile run). I followed their progress during the day and they all had to dig deep.  I will use their performance as my inspiration in the coming weeks.  Well done guys.