Questions about training after an accident

[little tinkerbell]

Hi, I don't post often but love reading the dis!
Have some questions, I have done princess half in 2009 and loved it was planning on doing more Disney races, I live in the carribean and have done some races here too, but then last November I fell and dislocated my left leg and broke my hip and my doctor has told me I may not run for the next year and half first I was really depressed cause I missed running so much, now I am focused on getting better, am now learning to walk on crutches, so now I want to walk the half or full in 2012 but have no experience in walking a full, cause walking a full seems such a long time, so from all the experts here on the boards, how do I take this.on? Just some info is that I am 41 and was reasonably fit before falling in doing zumba classes about 3 times a week, spinning, running. After not being able to move and the holidays I also gained about 15 pounds So hope you experts can give me some info?
Thanks, Gwen

 

[verticalchaos]

I'm by no means an expert, but I do know that in "Marathoning for Mortals" John Bingham and Jenny Hadfield have a plan for training to walk a marathon.

Having used their run/walk a half and gotten to the starting line uninjured (and had the chance to talk particularly with Coach Jenny), I had all the faith in the world in their training plans.

Good luck!!

 

[John VN]

Definitely not an expert but I had orders from Ortho. Surgeon, after a wicked bicycle crash, to not run a marathon and so I didn't. Instead I walked the 5K, 1/2M and Full M 2 weeks ago with the Full being my first.

Never was a runner to begin with so walking was really my only option any way and I found that Danny Dreyer's Chi Walking http://www.amazon.com/ChiWalking-Fitness-Walking-Lifelong-Health/dp/0743267206 worked for me.

His walking technique was easy on my 60yo body and my finish in the marathon was 4:56:28. I am planning to really train properly this year with a goal of walking the 2012 Full for my second Goofy in under 4:30.

Good luck and have fun.

 

[cewait]

I am a big believer in listening to the doctor. Though I would work hard to strengthen and rehab your legs so you have a strong base to run or walk from once you get a green light.

As far as training to walk an event it's much like training to run one. You need to establish a good base and start to build slowly. Your training plan for the half would work... Only walking not running.

Hope this helps.

Note that I have had a few incidents and I fully understand the frustration. Keep an eye on the diet, figoure out what other kinds of workouts you can do and focus on getting well. It takes an inordinate amount of energy for the body to repair itself.

 

[fashionista311]

if you want some inspiration - check out "the long run" by matt long. it's about a nyc fireman who was cycling to work, got hit by a bus, and needed like 40+ operations. the doctors told him he would never walk again..but ended up finishing another nycm.

good luck, and i hope you recover quickly!