Looks like I am done:(

Ouch, thats a tough and depressing call you made.  The only real advice I can give is to just get better and do whatever it takes.  Making the call to not do the IM was tough but probably the right decision.  You don't want to go into one of those with any major issues, because they will creep up in the race, and DNF'ing an IM sucks alot worse than dns'ing.

Just do what you have to do, get your mind off training if you have to, and get better.

Man, I feel for you. Sucks to have chronic issues, blow money at them, and have to miss such a major race. I've gotten 50-90% of the way through training for three iron races that I had to forfeit.

It's very good of you to go to support your friend. That's something that helps me--even if I can't train, I CAN visit others' logs, answer questions on the forum, etc. There's endless satisfaction in others ... me, I'm just one person.

I'm younger than you, I don't know, but I've heard it from quite a few people in their 80s that they wish they'd known how young they were at 50.

Speaking of which ... you'll probably make it to 80, so all the more reason to keep in as good shape as you can for the long-term.

What CAN you do? Stretching? Yoga? Water running? Other activities?

First off, you are doing the right thing.

I feel for you. I have been struggling with lingering issues since my HIM in June. Tendonitis in my foot took longer than I had hoped to heal. It is finally gone, I started running again, then I wiped out on my bike. Now my lower back is flared up so again, no running.

I have been down this road before. It can really make me mental not to be able to do what I love and that does not even factor in the disappointment of not being able to race. Since I have dealt with injuries so many times I know that I will heal. That is what I focus on. I repeat it to myself. I think of every positive and focus my energy on getting well. The same mental strength that got you through those tough IM workouts will get you through this disappointment.

Good luck!

We're the same age.  I always look at training at this level, at this age, like I'm running with a grenade in my pocket, never knowing when it will go off.  Yours hasn't.  Let it go for a few months.  Winter is coming. (in more ways then we care to admit    ) 

Let your body catch up to itself, and it will.  If it were me, and I understand other ways of thinking, I'd get off all the meds and rest my body.  If I could swim, I would, but if not, I'd let that go too for now.  I understand how hard it is, I've had to do it, but I came back stronger every time.  And yeah, at our age, you have to wonder how many "comebacks" you have left, but I'd say we have as many as we want to have, but our goals may have to shift.

Relax, heal.....and then start again.  You know the drill.

I think you should congratulate yourself for being smart and trying to recover and not push it.  Your health is more important.

+1

My dh has the same periformus issue you describe.  He is a rugby player and went back too soon after the initial issue and of course, reinjured his lower back.  I can tell you the 2nd go 'round of this pain has been more intense and taken more effort and longer to heal.  You are doing the right thing to let your body heal.  PT was a life saver for him as he worked on strengthening his core and increasing flexibility.  

Best of luck to you on your recovery and working through the tough decision.  

Very tough call...and I hope you have peace with your decision.

I had to pull out of an IM this year...it was tough to deal with. I'm signed up to do IMFL and have some injury issues (trying to avoid knee replacement) . I had steroid shot in my shoulder and symvisc in my knee last week. I have seen many physicians and PTs, and have the go ahead to do IM but will have surgery post IM and be on crutches for up to 12 weeks.  I'm participating and plan on walking the run. Being able to participate is good but a bit bittersweet.

It sucks to be getting older, have injuries and want to follow our hearts, but our bodies won't allow it.

I fear the time will come when I can't participate. The depression and mental stuff I went through this spring was ugly. You sound like me tris helped me change myself in both my body and mind and find joy. Taking the ability to do that away was very tough.

I'm not sure there is a way to get over the disappointment quickly. When something is a big goal it can take longer. Putting things in perspective and learning to accept what is a process and some of us do it more quickly than others. I found setting other goals helped. For me aquabikes are something I can participate in. The nice thing since I stopped running my knee doesn't hurt all the time anymore and I don't limp as often.

Trust your heart and do what feels right. Support your friend at the race if you think that is the right path for you.

Good luck with healing up!

It's a tough situation, but your livelihood doesn't depend on whether you start or finish an Ironman race, does it? 

Finishing an Ironman isn't going to change how people close to you (spouse, children, parents) view you, is it? 

But...pushing and attempting an Ironman race when you're not healthy CAN cause further health issues that might affect your livelihood and/or the quality of life you experience with your family. 

58 years old here and former back surgery recovery person.  I waiting and healed and worked very slowly on abs and lower back strengthening.  Waiting is hard, but def worth every minute.  a re-injury is horrible and much worse than the initial one.

Be patient with your body and the recovery.  As a teen athlete, I would simply wrap it and keep playing, but now it takes weeks or even months to heal my injuries.

Even if you can work out, you may be making adjustments to compensate for your pain and cause additional injuires elsewhere.

Swimming or even just walking in the water might help.  Your reduced body weight and the restance in the water will still give you a workout and feel great.

Good luck and remember be patient and heal.

So, so, sorry Cayenne, that really sucks. Our bodies just don't always cooperate and that's frustrating. I can't imagine how dissapointing it would be to plan and train for a full only to be curtailed by injury.

Now though, you should concentrate on letting your body heal, be nice to it for a while and just do what will help it.

You will get better and you will do the ironman, so don't worry about that, just worry about getting healed up so you can come at it again healthy and strong.

Take care!

Patsy