Running Again After a Stress Fracture

[diddyeinstein]

I started running over the course of this summer to give me something productive to do. I really started to like it and had spun up to about 20-25 miles a week. However, I got a stress fracture in my tibia which I think can be partially attributed to going from no running to 25 miles a week, as well as from the surface I was on when the injury happened (1/10th mile track).

My question is, I should be in shape to run again in a little over a week and was wondering if anyone knew what kind of miles I would be able to put in without reaggravating the injury? Obviously I can't go back to 5/day, but outside of that I'm not sure what could be considered a safe distance for the first few weeks.

[Banks2334]

Patience is the key. Don't try to get back to 25/week too soon. You already saw what increasing mileage too quickly can do. Let your body tell you when you are ready. Even if you are feeling good, take it easy. I wouldn't do more than 2-3 miles per run for at least the next month. You've got to let your body adapt to the stress especially since you've gone from no running to 25/week. And get off of that 1/10 mile track, it will wreak havoc on your legs. Get outside and run on a trail or grass. Avoid concrete like the plague.