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Strained Hamstring

KayandBelle
KayandBelle Posts: 22 Member
in Social Groups
Anyone ever strained a hamstring? I went to an orthopaedic sports doctor today and found out I have a grade 1 hamsting injury. I was injured running 2 weeks ago then reinjured it last Saturday trying to jog through the pain. I am on a schedule to run a half marathon February 24. The doctor seems to think I will still be able to do it, but it will take up to 6 weeks to heal the hamstring. With 8 weeks to the half, I was wondering if anyone else ever had anything similiar and still came back to race. I just completed my first half marathon in december with a time of 2:12. I will be able to do cardio like ellipticals as long as there is no pain. I am worried that I will lose my conditioning and not finish the race. I'm new to running races so a little nervous.

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  • trail_rnr
    trail_rnr Posts: 337 Member
    You'll be able to run if you stay active but don't strain it again/further. You probably won't PR and might even walk some of it, but if you are OK with that, then go for it. You've already done one half, so you know what to expect. Just dial your expectations back a notch.

    If _not_ being able to run/race at what you consider to be your peak will drive you crazy, then don't run, let it heal, and make plans for a different race that you can focus on (if you decide to skip the Feb race). Hamstring injuries take a long, long time to heal (especially long if you keep reinjuring or if you don't give it the love it needs). I'm still dealing with the dregs of a hamstring injury from the end of July (which I reinjured in October)! I am running now, but I am slow and have to be conservative (no speed work, intervals, and the like). I was very, very good with the rehab (mine was torn in 2 places) but the reinjury (tripped while walking the dog!) set me waaaaay back.

    Be nice to your leg and it will reward you! :flowerforyou:

    Edit to add: I did run a 6-day stage race about 3 weeks after the initial injury. I taped it every day and wore a compression sleeve, iced as soon as I finished each stage. I finished the event OK and my leg really wasn't any worse at the end of it. I suspect it compromised the healing, though, and led to the leg just being wonky, hence the reinjury a month+ later. You can run with it injured, but be aware that it might prolong the healing process!

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