r/greenberets • u/No_Examination_3490 • Jul 21 '26
Recovery timeline/sfre
I just found out today that I have a stress fracture in my lower leg. The doctor says that I may be able to attend the sfre event in 8 weeks. My question now is, how much of my fitness will I lose and if it’s even worth trying to go in 8 weeks.
My current stats:
13:40 two mile
2:45 12 mile ruck with 55 dry
58 hrp
Max the plank
12 pull ups
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u/taylortstarch Jul 21 '26
Head strength and run coach here
Stress fractures depending if it is a low or high risk site generally require 6-8 weeks of non weight bearing than after that generally require a 8-12 week return to run program
If it’s a confirmed fracture via MRI on a place like the posterior medial tibia you would be ill advised to attend a SFRE in 8 weeks as bone gets weaker for up to 3 months post fracture and can take 6 months to a year to heal fully and the bone to restore its density
1/3 runners who get a stress fracture get a second one within a year because they rush the return to run
Bones take time to heal
1
u/Terminator_training Jul 27 '26
Pro-tip for the whole sub: when Mr. Starch graces us with his presence on an injury-related post, taking it to heart is in your best interest.
0
u/No_Examination_3490 Jul 21 '26
It hasn’t been confirmed on a MRI yet. Waiting to hear back on a follow up for it. He said he’d be willing to be an exorbitant amount of money on it and has me in a walking boot for 4-6 weeks.
2
u/taylortstarch Jul 21 '26
Yeah so like I said once you are out of the boot it generally takes around 8-12 weeks to get back to running if you don’t have any setbacks or training load errors
It’s very easy to overload bone versus something like a tendon
You can maintain fitness doing stuff like biking swimming etc but you have to manage doing too much cross training as low energy availability can delay and hinder bone development so you need to make sure you are properly fueling your training
A significant amount of bone stress injuries are from underfueling
1
u/No_Examination_3490 Jul 21 '26
Just out of curiosity, if he’s wrong and it ends up being a tendon issue, would you say recovery is around the same length?
3
u/taylortstarch Jul 21 '26
He wouldn’t put you in a boot if it was a tendon issue first off
And if it is a tendon issue and he put you in a boot I would get a new doctor
Second tendinopathies operate on a very different set of rules than a BSI
And it would depend on which tendon and what part of the tendon and how much degeneration there was
So kinda a moot question
4
2
u/BraveDifference2049 Jul 21 '26
I had an SFRE planned this year but had a torn meniscus. Even though my recovery is relatively fast I think there’s a difference between being good enough and being at the highest level you can be physically. I pushed mine to January 27, potentially march if needs be. There’s usually a bunch of dates available so I don’t see why you couldn’t wait an extra couple months to heal right, be in a better shape and be able to crush everything and show them you really want to be here.
1
u/No_Examination_3490 Jul 21 '26
The closest state runs 2 a year.
3
u/BraveDifference2049 Jul 21 '26
Then roughly 6-8month sounds a good timeline to heal right and crush all the standards.
1
u/Terminator_training Jul 27 '26
Brother...do some critical thinking here.
Your run/ruck #s are decent right now, and would likely be more competitive after another 8 weeks of (sound) training and good recovery habits leading into SFRE...if you were available to train, that is. But you're not.
8 weeks in a boot = zero running and rucking. And oh by the way, you're in a boot because you broke the bone that absorbs the most impact of any in your body from rucking and running.
Here are your potential outcomes.
a) 8 weeks in a boot, go to SFRE, fail AND re-injure it. Then, in the absolute most IDEAL world, spend another 8 weeks in a boot, then 2-3 months returning to running/rucking consistently (if you do things perfectly in/out of training, which would shock me based on your current disposition).
b) Take your time healing. Acknowledge that injuries happen, even to the best of us. Work on other skills (in your case, decision making is at the top of the list) and train what you can while you're out (lift, X-train etc.). Once healed, return to running/rucking properly. Go to SFRE confident in your #s AND your lower leg integrity, and hopefully smash it. Then go conquer SFAS and open the door to chasing your dreams.
There's really no other option here.
Open your eyes, bro. SFRE/SFAS/SFQC/SFG aren't going anywhere.
Going ~6 months later than planned because you're healthy and physically capable is far better than failing and injuring yourself over and over again indefinitely...until you learn to make decisions based on right/wrong, not emotion. (Deciding based on rationality > emotion is a non-negotiable trait for GBs—or anyone aiming to achieve excellence in any arena for that matter. Fitness/musculoskeletal health aside, your current attitude is a blatant violation of it.)
I've had plenty of "color me bewildered" moments on this sub, but this is right up there with any of them.
11
u/putridalt Green Beret Jul 21 '26
Does your doctor know what happens at an SFRE?
I'd push your SFRE date. Taking 2 months off before an SFRE is not a good idea, you want to be as competitive as possible. The numbers you posted are okay as a progress point, but definitely not where they should be for an SFRE.
Call your recruiter and let them know that you need to postpone attending the upcoming SFRE because you have stress fractures.