Hypothetical situation. Let’s say the doctors tell me I can participate in the Flora London Marathon, but I can’t race it (or maybe even run the entire thing)? If you were me, with all my goal-oriented competitiveness; but also with my sweet romantic relationship I have with our chosen sport, what would you do? Also to consider: a) there would be the chance of worsening my injury, b) I am traveling to London all by myself, c) travel costs can be recouped if I don’t go, and d) my fundraising for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s reasearch in honor of my friend Dan. Now: VOTE.
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Pigtails Flying 
The fact that you can recoup the travel expenses if you don’t go is a huge factor. This close to the race, I’d say, it’s probably not worth going over there and damaging your hamstring (or self-esteem) by running a race that your body’s not totally prepared for. I voted to skip it.
That being said, if it were me, I’d probably go and run it. But, I’m stupid when it comes to stuff like that. I know what the smart decision is (and can advise others on it) but often can’t make myself follow the smart path. You seem smarter than me though, so maybe you can… 🙂
That is a rough question TK. Ideally you would say to focus on another race and not risk furthering your injury to a point where you may cause major damage to your body. The marathon is going to ask a lot out of you and if you are not 100%, I would be hesitant to run….so as a person looking from the outside, I would bow out.
Being quite similar in nature, I would be just as torn…will have to get back to you. Granted I am a bit biased as I would love to see you in London, but I would never want you to risk further injury.
Toughy TK! But I would say…listen to your gut! You already know what to do
xx
There’s one marathon not in NYC that I would love to run, and it is London, my favorite city with neither a “New” nor a “York” in its name. Were I soft in my training, I’d give it a shot, to see what happens. But if I did not feel I had turned a corner and that my leg was not going to fail me, and I could get my money back, I’d regroup, cancel, and focus on the fall. If it were as simple as hopping a bus to Staten Island to see what happens, it would be different, but it’s not.
I must say that my trip to London before the last one was hurt because I couldn’t run while I was there. I bravely, and foolishly, tried and made it about 20 yards in Hyde Park. The inability to go for a run, a fixture on my vacations for years and years, put a damper on my trip, erased when I got plenty of runs and one race in on my next trip.
There’ll be a next trip. There’ll be a next marathon. I know the disappointment of missing a marathon for which I had trained for months, albeit with an injury that left no choice about the matter.
So with hesitancy, I vote no. Get this behind you, build-up and enjoy some summer races, and be ready for that bus to Staten Island on All Saints Day.
dear pigtails — no matter you decide, you deserve a little pick-me-up. if you contact SE at knopf publishers, she’ll send you an advance copy of my book, ‘born to run.’ (i’ll let her know to expect contact from someone identifying herself as ‘pigtails’). hopefully it will make either your flight or your recovery a little more pleasant. and if you’re in london next tuesday, stop by and say hi at the book signing at ‘run & become’ running store so i know whom to cheer for on sunday.
best of luck —
chris mcdougall
ps — i’ve ripped my hamstring twice. terrible. felt like it was being torn apart by vampire bats.
Chris, too funny! Just yesterday I emailed a colleague at Knopf asking for a copy of your book. Thanks so much for stopping by the blog. You are really working your online marketing hard!
you’ve got no idea. yesterday, i was running through central park in tarahumara huaraches.
HILARIOUS! Was it for TV? Would love to see that!
For those of you who don’t know what the heck tarahumara huaraches are (I had to google), check out this post on Barefoot Ted’s blog.
http://barefootted.com/2007/01/how-to-wear-tarahumara-huarache-running.html
It’s not worth the risk of injuring yourself — or the mental drain of running a sub-standard race and having only yourself as company before, during and after.
I know. Easy for me to say.
I’ve been following your injury updates and have to agree with the rest. London is special no doubt, but by running when you’ve clearly not 100% is asking for trouble. Is risking permanent damage really worth it? I know I’m not in your shoes, but I’m a runner, and also a doctor, so I guess that makes me be able to straddle the fence. But I agree with the rest…your body is pleading for a chance to recoop…Sorry!
absolutely not.
the lessons we learn from our relationships don’t come when we plan for them, taper for them, or slate them on our to do lists.
we push back against them in the moment because mental transitions are hard for us. we push back and our children throw up strawberries, soy milk and hunks of grilled cheese on the white tile bathroom floor an hour past bedtime on a tuesday. we come down with wicked head colds the day before our highest volume weeks. there are two people in front of us at the port-a-crapper 30 seconds before the gun is going to go off, and we HAVE to go.
you knew what you should do before you posted the poll, and you needed us to help you transition. you don’t need to cross an ocean to realize you can’t run, only a NYC street corner.
I love you. Don’t go. Lament, share your sadness with us, we will carry some of it for you.
and the answer to your question is this: running comes from deep within us. If would not exist without the fire we bring to life, a fire to flee, hunt, or play. it needs you as much as it needs all of us; you hold a piece of the fabric there, i hold mine here.
ps that turd-delayed-race is still my 5K pr.
Little Brother, why must your comments always include poetic references to puke and poo? Nevertheless, I still love you!
If you can defer your place, then skip it. You don’t want to injur yourself anymore by trying to push yourself too far.
That said, it will still be a great day if your can curb your competitive nature and adopt a walk/run strategy to get you round. There will be loads of people doing this, and there is nothing to be lost if you do this and can finish.
But don’t risk making things worse – if you can get fit and do it next year, I’d go for that option. Can I sit any closer to the fence?
Do it… gallow-walk it at worst… good luck!
There will be other races but you only get one hammie (well, two since they come as a set) If you screw with the healing now, you may have to deal with not being 100% for a substantially longer time which would probably kick your ass emotionally. Rest, recover, THEN run.
(The streets & paths & parks will wait for you- I asked and they said they would)