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Hi,
Last week I fractured the second metatarsal in my right foot and am now in plaster for five weeks. Unfortunately, this was three weeks before the marathon which I was training for. I'd completed the hardest training and was starting my taper when it happened.
Could anyone else whose broken this bone share their experiences regarding recovery and getting back into training please? I've kind of got used to suddenly not been able do much sport and drive but I'd like to think to the future and therefore becoming more active. Fortunately there is no pain and I've not had to take a single pain killer, am sleeping well and keeping my foot elevated as much as possible.
After the cast comes off I intend to get some physio and I've been told by my doctor that until then, I can sit on my bike combined with an indoor trainer so long as I'm careful and there is no pain.
So, any hints, tips, stories to relate?
Thanks,
Rob
can i ask about the cause of your fracture?
you say you are in training. been running progressively further recently?
changed footwear?
changed running surface?
any orthotic devices?
Hello Tracknico,
I was out running when it happened. I woke feeling tired but still went for a lunch time run. After 5k my foot suddenly felt like it was filling up with water and swelling, I stopped, tried walking, then started to run. Then I heard a crack and that was that. I had to walk 2k back to the office which took more than 30mins. I was glad it was just the one foot and not both.
I've been following a 19 week marathon training scheme and had been doing about 70k a week for the last 4 weeks. I've run about 7 marathons, typically two a year and run 4 times a week throughout the year. I also weight train, swim and do yoga around the running but had cut that all back (with the exception of yoga) as my training volume increased. My phyiscal condition (until last Thursday 😉 ) is the best I've been in since I was 21. I'm not overweight etc.
I run in Vibrams (and I can sense the groans and wagging fingers from here 🙂 ). Although I know there are risks with minimalist shoes I've been building up my milage slowly and started from a good base. There were no sudden changes to my regime etc. All my training including 32k runs have been in them and each one has been fine. I've already run one marathon in them so I'm not new to running in minimalist shoes. I've been running in them for two years now. Obviously no orthotic devices nor any history of them.
This is the first time I've trained for 19 weeks for a marathon, typically I train for 16. 19 is probably too much in retrospect as in the last four weeks I've done 3 32k runs as I plateaued with respect to mileage.
I was running on asphalt at the time, but had been trail running two days before. I'd also be abroad for work twice in three weeks and I think I have fallen fowl of not resting enough. But I rather it broke now, than during the marathon. I'd rather be a DNS than a DNF. I've just been unlucky and hope to return to active training in a safe manner. I'll obviously not return to Vibrams straight away but this experience has not put me off in the long term. Stuff happens and you learn from it.
I fractured mine ( also in vibrams, and also last week!, but two years earlier:) - seeing how fast I could run down hill ), no crack so just a minor stress fracture for me. Thought it was just some muscle pain, so rested a week then tried a week later and found out what I'd done.
I didn't try running again till 4 weeks later - was told 6 was the min, but assumed that didn't take account of me be awesome.
But it was still felt a bit flakey for a few weeks after so was pretty careful. 3 Months later I was about to do 18 miles in the vibrams at a gentle pace.
Dunno if it helped, but as soon as I realised what I'd done. I ordered the biggest VitD capsules I could find and upped my milk consumption, thinking these two might aid bone growth. No idea if it does, but I believe it does which is half the battle.
Hope you mend soon!
Hi Ian,
Nice to know you recovered. I too am of the opinion that I'm awesome and that my wings are made of steel.
After the cast is off, I'll be happy just to swim to get my cardio back up together with some walking before trying running again.
I've also started drinking more milk, though it's not very iDave!