I had THR (oxinium) last December at the age of 43. I knew it was coming even though I was young(ish) and honestly the decrease in pain when I sleep and walk has been such a relief.
I guess I am a bit discouraged about my pace. I ran a sub-4 hour full marathon 6 months before surgery (thanks steroid injections) but I slowed down pretty quickly after that, but I was still able to knock out a pretty fast 5-6 miles pre-op before the pain got too intense. Fast is relative of course but I’m talking 7:30 miles was my standard 10K and less pace.
I had a brilliant recovery and was doing the reduced gravity treadmill a month post-op and doing light jogs 2 months-post op. I had the posterior method because my surgeon said it is better access and lower risk of nerve damage. I’m very happy with that.
What I’m not happy with is my pace. I just ran a half marathon this weekend (9 months post-op) at 2:07. I ran this at 1:45 2 years ago. I am training. I just cannot run fast. I believe it’s the piriformis muscle that they cut into for the surgery. I feel like it is affecting the length and power of my stride. Does anyone have experience with this? I also am running with Hokas now over the Brooks I had been using. I don’t think they are helping much either.
Ironically, I did 3 trail 20K’s this summer and those times are roughly the same as pre-op. I was never a great trail runner but I didn’t degrade. But I don’t understand a loss of almost 2 minutes a mile. I do cross training, Pilates, yoga, etc. I just can’t get that muscle to open up and do full stride.
Interested to see how pace went for others. I am relieved to be out of the major pain and that I’m running so far already with relatively good recovery. But I want my pace back and I want to focus on a BQ! Although I promised my … (Click Here to View Full Post and Comments)