Update From Amman - The Course Is Brutal And German Is In A Boot (But Running)

J.R. wrote:

Wearing a boot or a cast ALWAYS increases heat, inflammation, delays healing and makes the foot weaker.

He is likely wearing an Aircast, which puts pressure on the bone and stimulates healing. Studies have shown this can cut healing time of stress fractures by a large amount, and it can assist in the healing of stress reactions in a similar way.

I had a stress fracture of the tibia, wore a boot for three weeks, and I was able to begin running again. Using definite terms like ALWAYS is NEVER a good idea.

That said, if he does have a stress reaction in the foot, especially a fifth metatarsal issue, it is extremely risky for him to be running on a hilly course (or even a flat course). The downhills are going to put significant impact stress on his foot, and all it takes is one step to turn a stress reaction into a fracture--not just a stress fracture. Ask anyone who has not recovered from a broken foot, it can be a career ending injury.

I trust he has had some very good orthos look at his MRIs, etc., and hope he is getting good advice.

I think J.R. was being sarcastic with his/her post. I know the boot will help heal his injury, but my main point is: why is he racing if he is in a boot? It's a stress reaction, meaning it's not a fracture. If he is in a boot it's obviously severe enough that it's almost a fracture, so running on it could do some serious damage, especially on that course.

txRUNNERgirl wrote:

What good is the boot going to do if he's still running on it? It seems like it would be worse if his foot is practically immobilized the majority of the time except when he runs (more impact and movement). Why not just wait until after this weekend to start wearing the boot?

The last poster sort of beat me to it, but I was simply going to write: I am going to go out on a limb here and say that some sports medicine doctor or doctors with expertise in this area recommended it. But you probably know better?

come on txrunnergrl, he's wearing the boot to take the load off when not running. obviously the injury is not bad enough to warrant the boot all the time. he's wearing it as a preventative or to help healing, not as a necessary measure to correct for a broken bone. this is not that hard.

I love the photos of the kenyans walking the course in a pack some with hands in their pockets like they were pedestrians.

Why isn't there a poll on whose going to be the top us junior! My pick is derrick bc he has ice water in his veins! Side bet german doesnt finish this big race either!

Ethopia looking (like)God.

link to updated Junior entries please

thankyou

What's the over and under on a participant's previously showing up to a World XC press conference wearing a boot? Indeed, maybe my question doesn't make sense since the under would have to be less than zero! Running with a stress reaction on such a hilly course, one which appears to have a decent number of ruts and rocks (nice to see that the Jordanians have set up the course so far in advance), well, I must be pathetically ignorant, because it doesn't seem like such a good idea to me. But, of course, I wish GF the very best of luck.

I agree. They obviously know more about the details of the situation than us, but racing on a hard XC course with an injury that could potentially become serious seems like a bad idea. I can understand wanting to capitalize on his phenomenal fitness level on the world stage, and I'd love to see him compete for the gold, but not at the price of breaking his foot and having to take months off. Hopefully though we can trust that the guys calling the shots aren't complete idiots and German will run well and come out of it with little or no harm done.

Thanks for the update and photos rojo, but for christ's sake use a spell checker or something.

its "loking god"

My question is simple: Why is German Fernandez running at all given his condition? Why not wait until he is healthy to run? It seems like a big risk.

Why is Salazar down there? Who is he there to support?

SCherf is running.

Whose dumb idea was it to have Fernandez double indoors. Wasn't it enough that he was winning and setting records in the mile. Run them until they break - a great long term strategy. And run them while they're hurt - even better.

Its a classic rope-a-dope. Don't be fooled.

I'm glad somebody is excited to be there.

http://www.letsrun.com/photos/2009/amman3rdbatch/imagepages/image134.html

Explain, please.

clueless one wrote:

Explain, please.

let me help:

[x] attempted nipple joke

[ ] successful nipple joke