It’s about 9:20 AM as I type this, and I should be unhooking my rear wheel from the trainer, shedding the warmers and staging just past the finish line so as to get one more practice lap in at the GGP course.
Instead, I’m waiting for a batch of cornbread to finish baking and repositioning the ice packs on my calf. Slippery little suckers.
Um…that’s the ice packs, hopefully not the cornbread.
The 2007 Cross Campaign pretty much ended yesterday as I was pre-riding the circuit. There was this uphill double barrier set towards the end of the loop, and I didn’t feel like I was carrying enough momentum into it. So, I went back around and tried again. A few times. I had been kicking off as though it was a climb dismount and realized that I could probably just treat it like a level barrier dismount. Tried that and came in with good speed, stepped through and clicked out, then pushed off the right foot. Trouble.
I actually felt the pop before it started hurting. Made it over the barrier before coming down in a heap and freaking out the guy behind me. He was appropriately concerned, thought I’d whacked my shin on the barrier and made sure I was OK. I hopped to the nearest felled tree trunk, sat heavily and wondered just how much damage I’d done. Although it is the same calf that’s been causing me grief all fall, it’s definitely a different muscle - this time is the inner part of the outer muscle - hey, this is a spot-on description of things - as opposed to a deep inner location.
Lessee…this is where I say something like “Jeepers! That’s a shame!”
Was pretty clear I wouldn’t be riding anymore that day, so I rolled back to the car, packed up and headed home. Can’t easily put any weight on my toes. Ice. Elevation. Compression. Ibuprofin (doc recommended - 3 days to reduce fluid buildup).
As all the cameras are charged up, I’m probably going to go wander in and watch things. It is a pretty major gathering of the tribe.
Hmmm…9:40. I’d be taking that lap about now.
November 25th, 2007 at 4:37 pm Waaaaaaaaah! (..::snif::..) Sorry you’re still sidelined. Feel better soon, heal properly (though not necessarily quickly…) Hugs –B
November 28th, 2007 at 4:59 pm That super sucks. I Injured myself many times training for cross, every time it was on dismount. I use Shimano DX’s flat pedals and trail running shoes for all my training rides now and so far so good. Yes you will get laughed at if you line up at a race with bmx pedals but my old 747’s are so broken in I might as well be on flats. I realize your problem is not clipping out, I’m just saying that flat pedals changed how I throw myself around mechanically on dismount. Speedy healing. Matt
November 28th, 2007 at 5:09 pm Thanks and Thanks for the info and wishes. My problem seems to be specifically with pushing off - this one was uphill and I think the stop/go of the course recon didn’t help. Ahh well… - J
November 29th, 2007 at 4:59 am Yeeouch! Same calf but different muscle, eh? Ugh…I hope you heal up well!
December 1st, 2007 at 8:15 am Sorry about the injury, that’s a tough way to end the season. Get plenty of rest, there’s always next year.
December 1st, 2007 at 9:22 am Thanks Bill - it’s frustrating, but curiously, also seems to be healing remarkably fast (well, I can now move faster than the dog when we go out for a walk…).
December 5th, 2007 at 5:38 pm You said it was the same calf but a different part of it, that’s where you got lucky, you didn’t aggravate the old injury.