Looks like my only updates are due to injuries...not much of a blog anymore. After having a good training buildup over the winter and arriving at the Zumbro 100 feeling ready to run, I find myself in limbo again due to another running injury. About 28 miles into the race I decided to pull the plug due to lower abdominal discomfort. I had been containing the problem that began around the end of February and presented as a lower abdominal strain. I "trained through" it and convinced myself that it was getting better. Although dropping from the race was disappointing, it was the right call.
After a visit with my sports medicine doc and a consultation with a surgeon, it looks like I have an athletic (sports) hernia. Even doctors argue about what it is exactly but it usually does not involve the classic bulge through the abdominal muscles. Sounds like I have two options...surgery or rehab. Both require a down period of running and both are not absolute in the resolution of the problem.
I am going to choose the rehab option with a hard look at the possibility of an imbalance in my pelvic/hip/lower abdominal region. I think this is a bigger problem in the running community than anyone is willing to admit. Check out the article on Meb Keflezighi in the current RW...amazing story! Most runners are not like Meb but most runners can relate in some ways to his struggles with injury.
I am hoping to save some of my season but who knows what the future will bring. At this point I just want to get healthy, stay healthy and run some trails.
One last thought:
In 25 years of cross-country ski racing I can't ever remember being injured and unable to ski...hmm...
