You will be fine :) As long as you have built your aerobic base properly over the last 6 months, you are not going to loose it all over the course of 2 weeks. If you can get in the pool next week or hop on the bike, you can look at this as just starting your taper earlier than planned. Let your ankle and body heal form all the training you have done, your heart, lungs, mind, body and sole will still be their for you when the gun goes off and you will fly Iron-Girl :)

Thank you guys. The doctor did suggest the cold/heat therapy and I am doing this but I am still worried. I have been training for this event since January of this year and I do have a good base on all 3 diciplines but, my weakness is the run part. I am not a runner and I hate to have to stop for a while because I feel that this will affect my fitness in this sport. I am grateful I am not injured in a more serious way but, I am injured non the less. It is true, some drivers dont care much to share the roads with us at all. I have had my share of being chased also by dogs whos owners leave them roaming loose all the time, even if there is a leash law in this comunity. Sheeeeesh!!!!!!!!!!

Running is my strongest leg. I find that people who are not strong runners often benefit greatly from time off. Running is so destructive that by giving your legs the chance to really heal often results in improved performance. My wife is an intermediate runner and whenever she takes a week or 10 days off, her first run out of the box is usually one of her best!

I second Red. I will get minor injuries every couple of months that result in 3-5 days off, even up to two weeks and they really have no effect on my training. I would think it would be even more true for someone traing for an ironman vs. a HIM. Your fitness is at a much better level, and as Red said you probably will heal to the point where you will be much more refreshed and better off in two weeks. You've been training for 6 months, 2 weeks won't make hardly any difference. Enjoy your race!

Rob

Welcome to Ironman training! Like it or not, it is rare to train for so many months and not having anything go wrong that forces you to take a break from training for one reason or another.

A 2-week break will actually probably do you a world of good, if you can just hang on mentally. Whenever I am forced to reduce/eliminate one sport, I consider how I can make improvements in other areas.

So you can't run--but I bet you can swim with a pull buoy NOW.

So you can't run--but I bet you can work on your flexibility a little more.

So you can't run--but I bet you can do some additional strength training for the next 2 weeks.

3 years ago when I couldn't run or bike for 2 weeks, I did a lot of walking, and I swam about 25,000 yards per week and did a little extra strength training. I did not lose any aerobic fitness, and I came back stronger than ever. Bonus, my swimming got faster!

You will, too. But remember, Job #1 is to heal that ankle. Take the job of healing yourself as seriously as you do your training. In this case, for a sprain, RICE is king! Keep it elevated whenever possible; keep it under compression with an Ace bandage most of the day (and certainly while you sleep), ice it twice a day for a maximum of 10-15 minutes, and rest it. A little Vitamin I for 2 weeks (naproxen sodium generic or Alleve if you like to spend a lot more money) will also be a good thing.

If you don't heal this 100% you will be plagued by a bad ankle for many months to come. Trust me, I've watched other athletes go back to things too soon.

After a 2-week layoff from running, it will only take you 2-3 weeks to get back to a 1:30 long run, and that gives you plenty of time to get in a number of 2-hour runs in preparation for IMWI.

Deep breaths, it's OK to cry about this (been there, done that), but now you should stop and get busy on healing yourself.

Don't worry - You'll be ready to toe the line with us in Sept. We have over 79 days - time is on your side. Good advice from Kona.