Happy Mother's Day!

To all Mother's and those that help "mother," Happy Mother's Day! May you brunch, accept flowers, take a needed nap, refrain from housework, have a dinner prepared by someone other than yourself with the knowledge...Job well done!

I haven't heard how Saturday's run went at Burke this morning. I am sure it was muddled and mucky. I am so sorry I was unable to be there! I am afraid I won't be able to run for at least 6 weeks. You see, I haven fallen victim to the dreaded, stress fracture. What exactly is a stress fracture?


Bodyworks: Stress Fractures
By Patrick Milroy
How to recognise them, how to overcome them

Because stress fractures of the calcaneus (heel bone) and tibia and fibula (lower-leg bones) share similar symptoms, investigations and treatments, we're grouping them together here.

Symptoms: As with all stress fractures, you'll feel crescendo pain, which grows in intensity the longer and further you run, probably reaching an intolerable peak just before you stop. In the textbook case, the pain comes on sooner and more severely with each successive run.

Signs: It's important that your GP listens to your description, for there is often little to feel at the site of the fracture. A 'pinch test' can confirm a stress fracture of the calcaneus (heel bone) earlier than you'd be able to feel the swelling of healing callus in the tibia or fibula.

Medical investigations: An x-ray may not reveal the early stages of a stress fracture, so an ultrasound test or scan is a better option. This can be particularly useful for headstrong athletes who may continue to run through the pain and tenderness until the bone snaps completely.

What else could it be?A variety of illnesses, infections or even growths can cause bone pain - various tests can confirm or eliminate the possibility of their existence.

Self-treatment: Rest! (This doesn't mean you shouldn't work out your cardiovascular system and the rest of your body with exercise that doesn't make the fracture hurt.)

Medical treatment: Despite your protests, your doctor will continue to emphasise the need to rest the fractured limb. If the fracture hasn't healed within six to eight weeks, they'll need to check that bony union is in fact occurring - if it's not, they may have to consider further measures, including surgery and bone grafting. On a positive note, a healed stress fracture is usually stronger than the original bone.

Can you run through it? No. Any runner who attempts to run through a proven stress fracture probably needs their head examined, as the chances of worsening the injury are so high.

Recovery time: A stress fracture usually recovers in half the time that a complete break of the same bone would, ie six to eight weeks.

I wanted to post this article from Runner's World so you can be aware if you start to show systems of a stress fracture. Marguerite just went through this (cast and everything) and is just getting back to running...slowly. I am actually okay with staying off the running for awhile because I know I need to heal this over worked body. I am excited to try new things, go back to old workouts (bike...yike, swim...bleck!), and get stronger.

I will be at the track as soon as we are able to utilize it. That way I can heckle you all everytime you come around. Dianne will be covering the Burke runs until I am able to get back to the distances. We are meeting at Centreville track this Tuesday as usual. Rumor has it, some of the run club members were running rather fast on Union Mill path last week.

Meet us for a Saturday run at Burke this Saturday at our 7 am/8am take off times.

Good Luck to those that are swimming, biking and running tomorrow in the Virginia Run Tri! Let us know all about it!

Good Luck to those that are running Life Time's Wild 5k at Bull Run.

By the way, could someone please send me some Run Club pictures?! Or pictures of you racing? Starbucking?! I need some photos for our blog.

Now go and RUN (and when you don't feel like it, be thankful you can and get your butt off the couch and do 5 for me)

Heather