Running: injured for the first time in 4 years, but am still hopeful to run Boston. This is how I’m preparing.

I’m in “running purgatory.” I’m borrowing this expression from a running buddy who texted, “Being in running purgatory sucks,” when I checked in with him about his experience recovering from an injury.

Right. It sucks.

I’ve had a few minor injuries in recent years, but my breaks from running were never more than three weeks. This time, though, there are two disruptions, and the break is much longer. At the end of September, I felt acute glute pain during my weekend long run. It was so severe I couldn’t walk that day, let alone finish my run.

Soon after that, I underwent hernia repair surgery. Throughout the summer, I’d felt some groin discomfort during more intense runs, and it kept resurfacing. It turned out to be a small, fat-containing inguinal hernia. I didn’t have to get surgery, but because running is such an important part of my life, I decided to go ahead with it.

I healed quickly from the surgery and started jogging in less than two weeks, but the glute/lower back pain returned. Although the X-ray didn’t reveal any issues, I suspect it might be a sacral stress fracture. I’m still dealing with insurance changes and have yet to get an MRI.

Regardless, I’ve decided to take a break from running for at least six weeks.