Bite stops play

I fully intended to upload my final few weeks of triathlon training on here following last week’s epic RDCWest training session – speed was the focus – but unfortunately this happened….

*WAH* During our run, I was bitten on the ankle by something that my body wasn't very happy about and my ankle turned into an elephant’s leg within 48 hours.  I was convinced it was fine – and was reassured by my nearest and dearest that all I needed was some Piriton – but after going into work on Wednesday, I was directed towards A&E.  VERY luckily for me, a very good friend works there so I was sneakily whipped in, assessed and much to my surprise, put in a bed and given IV antibiotics after being told that if I had left it a day later, I would have been admitted and put on a drip.  Oh dear….

I often wonder about the “general” level of pain/illness that’s needed to sign yourself off training – this was prevalent in my last long run weekend before Barcelona – but I find it really interested to hear about the levels that others will tolerate before calling in the professionals.  My husband and Vic were sure – as was I – that my leg would take care of itself once I’d taken the antihistamines, and I was hugely surprised that I would be required to take seven full days of penicillin, with the possibility of three MORE days in case the swelling doesn’t go down.  The ankle (or cankle as it’s currently being referred to) is still quite swollen, but in comparison to what it was, it’s pin-thin.  I have swum on it since, and am planning to try it out running tomorrow morning.  But should I wait longer?  Am I being stupid to just tape it up and get in the pool (or the Docks….?!)?  Or do I just need to take a dose of cop on and get on with it…..?  How ill do you have to be to justifiably stop training?!  This was something briefly discussed in the debate with fellow runners in Women’s Running a few months ago, and everyone said that they felt particularly guilty when taking sessions off, despite knowing that sometimes it was entirely necessary.  I didn’t run with RDCWest last night and whilst I know it was the right decision, I’m planning to swim tonight, run tomorrow, have a 5 mile race on Saturday, a 1.5km swim planned for next week and the triathlon a week on Sunday, with a spinning schedule planned in to get me cycle-ready….

It’s an interesting conundrum and one that I think troubles everyone training for something – whether it’s a marathon or a 5km – but in light of my recent injury, it’s something I’ve definitely been considering whilst lying on the sofa with my leg elevated watching The Good Wife with the cat….