Returning July 29

I will return to running on July 29, 2008. I have been diagnosed as having a stress fracture in my right femur. The lower part of the femur, near the knee.

I had long believed this was IT Band but the symptoms weren't always 100% consistent with IT Band. I finally consulted an orthopedic surgeon at my wife's insistence. On July 2nd, he relayed the results of my bone scan.

My first drop-out: I dropped out of my seventh marathon this April (mile 20) after excruciating pain could no longer be ignored and the sentimental 18 mile mark at KDF was reached.

I just reviewed my running log to find I have been battling this injury since April 1, 2008.

It looks like the injury occurred during or after the 3rd day of speed work where tempo and interval runs led to consecutive days of 5 miles - each with average paces between 6:34 and 6:42. Average paces included recovery jogs.

My last run was 5 miles on June 17, 2008. A 7:53 average was painfully achieved so I could remember specifics of pain to communicate to orthopedic surgeon (the pain had diminished and I was relatively certain I had an IT Band or some other related problem). Had I thought a stress fracture was realistically a possibility I obviously would not have been that stupid and would have been back in action sooner.

Six weeks added to June 17th = July 29th. On that Tuesday, I will see how a test jog feels.