I know this might come as a surprise...

Credit: http://runnersconnect.net

...but I managed to injure myself, a month out from Big Sur. My left calf and arch started bugging me during the Wrightsville Half, and continued to feel really tight through the next week. I ran my 20 miler (too fast, I'll admit) last Saturday, and it felt a bit worse. Sunday, limpfest 2016 began. I went running Monday morning- or tried to. I managed 2 miles, averaging over 11 minutes per mile.

Maybe it is just soreness from the 20 miler, I thought. Maybe I just need to stretch and foam roll more, I thought. By Tuesday, I made an appointment with Dr. Jason just to be sure. I ran Wednesday and Thursday for less than my full schedule, at a very slow pace. I didn't want to be short on miles during what should be my peak training week.

Well, it turns out that this particular pain, which I thought was just tightness, is posterior shin splints. Luckily, I failed the stress fracture test (I mean, I don't have one). I didn't even know that was a possibility!!!

No running until at least mid-next week, and maybe not even then. It sounds like it should be back to normal in about 3 weeks. Good think my race was 3.5 weeks from when I was given that prediction!

Needless to say, I'm a bit panicky. What if I get to the week of the race and it is still bothering me? If it is possible to give myself a stress fracture by running on it with the shin splints, would I go ahead with the race, or have to sit it out?

I'm going to be positive, and assume that I will be able to run. I was almost to my taper anyway, so I won't lose too much fitness. I can pool run in the interim, so that is where you'll find me for the next few weeks.