Been there. I've had some really long lay offs and it sucks. The non-running people in your life won't "get it". What you are feeling is totally normal.

How about this: you keep your reservations for DC and all that and still plan to go. If you can't run, then you walk it. You'll meet all kinds of amazing people doing the same thing. You'll still be out there. And the race will be there next year!

For perspective, I recommend perusing the Shut Up + Run blog. She has had some injuries and is very articulate and funny. She's definitely helped me through my latest rough time. A lot of her most popular posts are on the right side; scroll down. Several about injuries in addition to this one:

http://www.shutupandrun.net/2012/04/10-ways-to-survive-your-injury-without.html

You'll get through it. Go easy on yourself! :flowerforyou:

I'm recovering from ITBS now which caused me to miss a half and my first full marathon last year. I was so upset and pretty depressed about it for a few weeks. I was on 2 months of zero running. In that time I joined the YMCA as I got a great discount through work and spent time swimming, biking, etc. I found Pilates to be helpful in regards to opening and strengthening my core and hips.
Good luck, hopefully you're able to run it!

Keep your chin up, you will bounce back from this. I have had to take prolonged (2-3 weeks) breaks from training due to my job and I was able to make up the lost ground. I am not going to lie, that first run back after 3 weeks of not running is going to SUCK but after a week of being back on a steady routine you will get back to where you were.

I got sidelined with a major injury a couple of years ago. Running and any extensive walking were banned for a minimum of 6 weeks before my sports ortho would reassess where I was. I was unaware of it at the time but I went through the Kübler-Ross 5 stages of grief leading up to the diagnosis. It was classic actually.

I'd done everything I could to avoid seeing a doctor and being hit with the ban hammer which included weeks of needless suffering with pain that I can't even begin to describe, weeks that only set back the healing process.

Yes, being injured sucks and it wasn't exactly a fun experience but I learn a hell of a lot from it so it became invaluable. I learned what real pain is and now can tell the difference between what can be trained through and what can't. I learned if I can't run or walk there are other things I can do to maintain my fitness. I approached my healing and rehab with as much focus and commitment as I did with my training.

I was able to go from a complete cessation of running to a rehab period to a trail half marathon in 4 months. Do what you need to do and live with the decision.

I could probably quote something from everyone else who has posted here. It is all so true. Running is a huge part of our daily routine, our daily joy, and our psychological and physical health. I don't think I could ever go back to not being a runner (which would have to be when I was 8). I was injured a few times during high school, but since being a lone-runner, it's much harder to get over being injured. I find myself being depressed just after a few days of not being able to run, and I hated having to demote my Feb. marathon to a half when I injured myself in Dec. and could no longer train the way I needed to for a full. However, it's a good thing I did that, and while I took a week off, I should have listened to my body and taken off longer. Sometimes we listen to our heart rather than our mind and it's not always better. It pushes us through the last miles of a tough run, but when one is injured, it's always better to listen to the doctor and allow the body to heal properly. I just came off the same injury and the only reason I didn't get as depressed this time is because I wasn't allowed to run anyway due to an unrelated surgery.
So, enough about me... I hope you (OP) take comfort in what people have written here and don't get discouraged. I don't know whether it's a good idea to advise you to run that race anyway. I understand you have some financial presure about that, and I wonder if there were a way to cancel it wihout losing too much money? If you are pretty injured, it may not be worth it to aggravate it so much at the race that you can't run for a while after that. I did that at the half and had to take off three weeks. I PR'ed, so it was kind of worth it, but missing out on running maybe not so.
Also, know that even if you can't run, there are ways to keep up fitness with strength training, ellipticals and bike riding that keep strong enough to not make the first run after weeks a total drag.
I hope my post wasn't too confusing... sorry!
Wish you a good recovery

I agree with those encouraging you to still go and enjoy the trip. Walk the race if you can, support other runners if you can't. I broke my hip in December and was completely restricted from any cardio from the wasit down for 15 weeks (not even cycling/swiming). It was miserable - not going to sugar coat it - but be smart about your recovery. Ultimately it's short term, even though it feels like an eternity.