Have any age competitive runners successfully trained around their CECS?
Hello all. My orthopedic surgeon is 90% sure that I've got bi-lateral CECS in both posterior compartments. I haven't had treadmill pressure testing yet as I'm in the middle of a move and couldn't schedule one before leaving the sate.
The thing is, my CECS is tolerable most of the time and only seems to be a real problem at or near race pace during extended intervals. I can run 3 hr in Zone 2, or 4x4min VO2max (Or even 800m repeats) as long as there's enough recovery with only minor pain. But 20+min threshold intervals or 4+ mile marathon pace blocks will cause both calves to blow up and both feet to go dead numb.
I ran a 3:13 full marathon (on numb feet and 9/10 soleus pain) in December on 55mi/wk and a 1:26 half (very little pain, just completely numb feet) in February on 25mi/wk. My last training block was the most aggressive yet for a July Marathon where I had trained up to 65 mi/wk and was on pace to run a 3:08 (to qualify for Boston) where it all went wrong in the final week. Dropping out of that race at 6 miles finally got me in to see the Ortho who listened to my training (and past race stories) and diagnosed me with CECS on the spot, said he wouldn't even test, recommended the fasciotomy straight away.
I've not had the best surgical experiences in the past and I'm wary of getting elective surgery which to most people probably sounds crazy (You can run 50 miles a week? Why would you cut yourself open for that?!)... But I have a dream of running all the majors and of someday getting a sub 3-hr marathon, so I know it would sound silly to many. I know lots of you struggle with CECS daily and would be in heaven if it never presented itself unless running 7min pace for 4+ miles.
So I guess the question is, should I try to train around it, or just get it done? Thanks in advance for any input 🙏
