Injury advice

Hi all! I'm a little--actually, make that a lot--disappointed right now because I had planned to run the GEER 100K this weekend in Northern Virginia but have come down with case of inflammation in my knee (I suspect it's either quad tendinitis or bursitis). I was out for a morning run about a week and a half ago and began to feel it. I scaled back, took a week off, and tried to run this morning. Different run, same result. Actually, the pain was even worse this time than it was last time. In any case, I can't run my race now--I can't run 3 miles, let alone 60+. So, needless to say, I'm bummed. I see the doc on Monday and will get an MRI to confirm, but any advice you all have in dealing with this would be appreciated. I've had injuries before and know how difficult resting can be. But how do I deal with knowing that there will be 300 other people out there running a race on Saturday that I wanted to run?

Bummer. I don't think there is any advice which can make this any better between now and the MRI results. I think the best advice anyone can give is to be patient, listen to the doctor, and if he/she is one of those running-will-kill-you doctors, get a second opinion.

How do you deal with Saturday? Go up to the race and cheer on the lucky buggers who made it to the start injury-free, and console the stubborn ones who didn't, but don't have your sense to know when not to run.

I count myself lucky to have a couple of running experiences which are on a short list of life-changing events. One of them was a year ago this coming weekend, and it only happened because I fought off my impatience to run on an injury. Just remind yourself you're sitting down now for a reason, and consider the cost of not sitting this one out.

That's my two bits.

There will always be another race, but not necessarily for you if you don't address this injury properly.

LIA gives excellent advice, although it's got to be very hard being on the receiving end of it after training so long for this weekend. I feel for you :-(

Try to remind yourself that you're in it for the long haul, not just this weekend. Good luck, and hope you recover soon.

Thanks for the advice, LIA and CS. Sometimes it just hits home better (read: keeps me from getting too upset) when it comes from fellow runners.

There's always another race tomorrow...