Highland Fling - the decision

I'm going to bail out of the Highland Fling for sure this year. Here's my reasoning ...

According to the anonymous poster who I've enjoyed a bit of exchange with, and who ran the Exe to Axe (what's your name fella?) there are 3 grades of ankle sprain, of increasing severity:

Grade I

• Mild sprain, mild pain, little swelling, and joint stiffness may be apparent
• Stretch and/or minor tear of the ligament without laxity (loosening)
• Usually affects the anterior talofibular ligament
• Minimum or no loss of function
• Can return to activity within a few days of the injury (with a brace or taping)

Grade II

• Moderate to severe pain, swelling, and joint stiffness are present
• Partial tear of the lateral ligament(s)
• Moderate loss of function with difficulty on toe raises and walking
• Takes up to 2-3 months before regaining close to full strength and stability in the joint

Grade III

• Severe pain may be present initially, followed by little or no pain due to total disruption of the nerve fibers
• Swelling may be profuse and joint becomes stiff some hours after the injury
• Complete rupture of the ligaments of the lateral complex (severe laxity)
• Usually requires some form of immobilization lasting several weeks
• Complete loss of function (functional disability) and necessity for crutches
• Usually managed conservatively with rehabilitation exercises, but a small percentage may require surgery
• Recovery can be as long as 4 months

I don't seem to have any loss of function and have almost no pain in my left ankle sprain now except at the very extreme end of a few very particular movements of my foot, and when I poke at the bruised bits (very tempting). I do have some stiffness, but not too bad. That coupled with the fact I can do toe raises and run 20' without any problem or pain at all makes me think I have either a severe grade I or a mild grade II sprain injury.

I'll see my physio on Wednesday for a proper diagnosis but the swelling, although still clearly present, has been decreasing every day. And, the bruising appears to have reached a maximum with some serious black bruising on the outside edge of my foot, just above the sole and the area around my ankle a sort of greenish bruising colour (mmm nice). Thanks b*****y I don't have a grade III or what I had on my right ankle just before Christmas, a proper grade II.

If I continue healing at this rate I reckon (hope) I should be in a position to do a 6 mile run by the weekend. However I don't have confidence that I haven't weakened some tendons so do not want to risk a further, more serious sprain in the middle of the Fling race, or to test my ankle by subjecting it to 53 miles of pummelling (yet).

Not a comfortable decision to make but I'd far rather be risk averse and back to full training by the weekend after the Fling so I can focus on training for the UTMB. If I complete the Marlborough Downs 33 miler on 16th May, then run the 53 mile Fling route on the weekend of 13th June, then do a 2 day Bobby Gee round on 25th/26th July with Jon Steele and Davie then finish off with the new 31 mile 6800' ascent Dark an White Peak ultra on 8th August before tapering I should be in good shape for the UTMB.

It'll mean I won't be able to complete enough races to qualify for a ranking in the Vasque champs this year but I'm not bothered about that. If can complete the UTMB as my only achievement this year I'll be a very happy man indeed. :-)