No, this isn’t about politics. In fact, I’m about the least political person you’ll ever meet. This is unfortunately about my rash of injuries so far this year and just goes to show, anything can happen at any time. Blessed with an injury free 2009, it’s coming back to me tenfold.

It all started during the Walt Disney World Marathon. While trying to be the “pillar of strength” for my sister in her first marathon, it turned into an intense internal battle with bursitis in my hip. It struck without warning and I hadn’t experienced it since three years earlier when it took a month of rest to fully recover.

Another visitor came calling just two weeks later. My phantom ankle injury came out of nowhere. I couldn’t tell you when or how it happened, but one morning I could barely walk. After applying the R.I.C.E. (Rest. Ice. Compression. Elevate.) rule to this unwelcome visitor for a week, it left as quickly as it appeared.

Now comes the latest in this short but crazy year. My achilles is now as tight as a knot and sore as can be. This one I felt coming and have taken measures to control the pain as much as possible. Thank goodness for Ben Gay Pain Relieving Patches and KT Tape, I’ve been able to work through it.

These are all taking place on the left side of my body. Even though I’ve waiting until one ailment is healing/healed, one injury is compounding the next.

With only a week and a half remaining until the Red Rock Marathon and Half Marathon, I can’t afford another week off. I’ve already canceled my back-to-back halfs and will then concentrate on getting ready for the Fargo Marathon in May.

I’ll sprinkle a prayer for all of you that are injury free in the hope that you stay that way.

RMFR

I can accept rolling an ankle or pulling up lame from a muscle strain but what I cannot handle are Phantom Injuries. You know the ones – you wake up and can’t walk or you’re just standing in line at the grocery store and your knee buckles. Injuries that seem to happen for no reason.

Saturday I ran and felt fine. Sunday night I could barely walk on my left ankle. Nothing of any consequence happened in between. Figuring it was some freak feeling that would go away, I did nothing. Monday morning I woke up and it was worse. I started to R.I.C.E. (Rest, Ice, Compress, Elevate) all Monday and Tuesday it was better. The worse part of this whole thing is that I had to stop training even before I really got started. This Phantom Injury has now sidelined me for another week so I’m scrapping my plans for back-to-back half marathons in March. I’ll be lucky to be ready enough for the climbs of the Red Rock Marathon the first weekend of March.

I’m sure these injuries have some reason for happening somewhere along the way but the way they present themselves make no sense whatsoever. Have you had any Phantom Injuries that just showed up in the middle of you’re training? Let’s hear about them.

RMFR