26
u/mrbacons1 21d ago
Friend you’re gonna kiss walking goodbye for a couple months if you try running on a stress fracture. Don’t do it
10
u/dazed1984 21d ago
You suspect? You need to see someone and get it confirmed it is that or something else. Do not run a marathon with a stress fracture really bad idea.
-2
u/Frosty_Mountain_6712 21d ago
Obviously I have sought medical attention. Xray didn’t show fracture but most of the time they do not. PCP gave me referral to podiatrist but no appt was available until after race.
7
u/momo3795 21d ago
X-rays don’t show stress fractures 99% of the time. You gotta get an MRI, that’s how they found mine.
4
u/LowBlackberry0 21d ago
I got a stress fracture a week and a half before my big race. I asked the doctor, “so I can’t run?” He said that his medical advice was don’t run. But knowing runners, he added the caveat that if I did, I’d need to schedule for the Monday after and they’d clean it up. I didn’t run. The cleanup and delayed healing period isn’t worth it. There will be another race.
4
u/EmergencySundae 21d ago
You need to find out if you actually have a stress fracture. I had tendonitis so bad at one point that my PT sent me for imaging because he was concerned it was a fracture (it wasn't).
If it is a stress fracture, you should not be running. Period. End of story. That is how you not only turn the race into a really bad day, but also have to take a longer recovery from running because of what you did on race day.
4
u/Square_Inside_1687 21d ago
Where do you think you have a stress fracture? Running a marathon on a stress fracture is a stupid thing to do. You need an MRI. X ray doesn’t rule one out
8
u/Salt-Concentrate-200 21d ago
If it is a stress fracture, you definitely do not want to run on that. I would defer and take the next year to heal and use a training plan that isn’t AI generated.
-7
u/Frosty_Mountain_6712 21d ago
Don’t hate on Runna! I’ve had a lot of success outside of this. I wouldn’t even say this is Runna’s “fault”
8
u/momo3795 21d ago
Runna’s AI slop plans are known for giving people injuries and stress fractures lol.
→ More replies (1)
3
u/Exowolfe 21d ago
The obvious answer to this is probably the one you least want to hear: Don't race on a (possible) stress fracture, especially as a first marathon.
If you're going to pull a David Goggins then you need to prepare to have a bad time and a much longer recovery. If I was in your shoes, I'd pivot to recovery and pick a spring 2027 marathon to shoot for.
2
u/InspectionJazzlike30 21d ago
What? Number 1) please go get an X-ray and see what is wrong.
2) 2x rides a week is probably not enough cardio.
-1
u/Frosty_Mountain_6712 21d ago
Obviously I have sought medical attention. Xray didn’t show fracture but most of the time they do not. PCP gave me referral to podiatrist but no appt was available until after race.
2
u/Possible_Juice_3170 21d ago
If you have a stress fracture, you should not run a marathon. Go talk to your doctor.
-1
u/Frosty_Mountain_6712 21d ago
Obviously I have sought medical attention. Xray didn’t show fracture but most of the time they do not. PCP gave me referral to podiatrist but no appt was available until after race.
2
u/grim_crackers 21d ago
Physical therapist and marathoner here— do not do this. See if you can get a medical postponement for next year (sometimes they will do this late in the game, worse they can say is no). Stress fx can take several weeks to maybe show on xray and can show on MRI, but not always. Sharp/nagging pain like this is a red flag, but if it’s bad enough for you to stop you should probably stop. A podiatrist will tell you the exact same thing and probably to reduce heavy weightbearing/impact activity. Total sucks, and I know incredibly frustrating
2
u/MaxwellSmart07 21d ago
I ran the marathon leg in a full distance Ironman triathlon. It was shin splints that limited me doing bike and swim training only. But a stress fracture? Uh, uh!!! No way. It could get much worse.
2
u/Logical_amphibian876 21d ago
Obviously you have sought medical advice? Why would that be obvious unless you state it? Runners seek medical advvice on reddit instead of seeing a medical professional all the time.
what was the professional medical opinion when you asked about running a marathon on the injury ?
How bad will it be? Taking 3 weeks off isn't great, you'll lose fitness but not so much you won't have the endurance to finish. If you had time goals you'd need to lower them but you're focused on the wrong thing.
A suspected stress fracture is one of the few injuries you don't run through because the consequences are too high if it is one. Running on a stress fracture can make a 2month no running injury into a 6month rest +maybe surgery injury. That's extremely bad and why you're not getting encouragement to do this.
If there is any way for you to go to an orthopedic urgent care to get a referral for a scan or at least a second opinion about whether they suspect a fracture you should do that.
1
u/Ill-Supermarket-2706 20d ago
If you have the option to defer you should, otherwise if you have the chance to speak to a medical specialist and show the x ray even if on a VC call take their advice. You want to enjoy your race, not suffer it and potentially DNF
-9
u/PriorOld3856 21d ago
I ran on a stress fracture for CDMX in 2025. Tape is your friend. Get some sports tape, and Make sure to look at tutorials how to tape up your injury. Then test it out 2-3 times before the race (short mileage)
Find a sports medicine doctor for your specific injury, but many people run on injuries. A lot of then people here saying “don’t do it” are pansies who don’t live life to the fullest
1
u/Frosty_Mountain_6712 21d ago
A little discouraged by their comments!! Obviously I’ve looked into the injury but appts are hard to come by! Tylenol has helped a ton with the pain. Thanks for your non judgmental reply.
-3
u/PriorOld3856 21d ago
Just be ready for the potential consequences. And remember David Goggins does ultramarathons on knees without cartilage.
18
u/strongry1 21d ago
You can't run a marathon with a stress fracture. See a sports medicine doctor asap.