I am currently training for the 2000 Boston Marathon (which is another 4 weeks away). This is my first marathon and I have been consistently upping my mileage since January. I follow a Marathon training group so I know I haven't been overtraining. I've been basically injury-free until last week. But I don't know what's wrong. I'm hoping you can help me out.
I run about 3 short runs during the week (2 6-milers and 1 3-miler) and one long run (gradual increase) on Sunday. So far, I've done 2 18- milers and 1 20-miler. After the 20-miler last week, I started having pains in my left foot. It is on the left side of the foot, along the bone. Not really on the top of the foot, but not really on the bottom either. I feel it when I step down. It went away overnight. About 2 days later, I went on my usual 6-miler and the pain started at about the 5th mile. Finished my 6 miles and slept on it. Pain went away the next day. 2 days later, I ran another 6 miles. Same thing happened. Then I ran a 9-miler on Sunday. Pain began more intensely in the 7th mile. Again, went away overnight. 2 days later, ran another 6 miles but the pain started in the 2nd mile and even after I slept on it, it still hurts today! Am getting very worried. Have a 13-miler this Sunday and another 22 -miler next week. What should I do at this point? Should I run through the pain? Or just cut down on my mileage (and skip the 14 and 22 milers)? I'm getting worried because the marathon is in 4 weeks.
Aida, unfortunately, it sounds as if you might have sustained a stress fracture. There is only one sure way to rule this out, and that is to have a bone scan. An x-ray is not sufficiently sensitive to catch tiny fractures, but a bone scan will definitely catch the fractue if one is there.
If the bone scan is negative, then an assessment by a PT is in order. In the meantime, use ice, and certainely stay off your foot till you get a definitive answer. NSAID's are also in order - check with your MD as far as dose is concerned.
Good luck
