I’ve had a real struggle emotionally accepting the reality of what has come to be over the past week and a half. I’m still holding onto some hope, but there’s no ignoring I have an injury, significant enough that it’s making me question if I’ll be able to run the race. It’s depressing, and frustrating, and it just plain old doesn’t seem fair. It makes me wonder how down in the dumps professional athletes must get when they suffer a serious injury.
So I gave myself several days of rest before heading out for a run last Thursday. My foot was sore, but manageable. My knee, however, really started to give me some concern pretty early on in my four mile run. So I took another day off, the pain ended immediately when I stopped running, so I figured I was okay. I headed out for another run on Saturday. I was planning for five miles, still trying to ease my way back up after taking some time off. Almost immediately the pain in my knee was there, and stronger than ever. I fought to make it a little further thinking I could make it three miles to at least get myself home. I couldn’t do it, I couldn’t even get my leg through a stride, and the pain was shooting and strong. I finished out 2.5 miles, and hobbled my way home. At this point all I wanted to do was cry, not for the pain, but for the thought that after all this time I might not be able to complete this run in a few weeks. And the pain wasn’t subsiding, it stuck around for a couple days, even with a steady diet of advil and icing. It’s left me feeling unbelievably sad. I want to finish this out, I want to reach my goals, I want to put on my running shoes and go make myself stronger, faster, more prepared. And yet all I can do right now is sit and wait, rest, hope for the best.
The pain has improved over the last few days. That gives me a small amount of encouragement. I was unable to go to the doctor due to the holidays, or I would have been there. Another day or two of rest, and I’m going to see if I can get out there and do a short run again. I don’t want to push it. I know if I go back out and the pain comes back, that with just 18 days until the race, I’ll be sidelined. My only chance on this is to wait long enough to heal, and still give myself enough time to get out and prepare. I know I’ll need one more long run for the sake of my confidence. I figure I can do that as late as a week before, which gives me the rest of this week and next. I’m still hoping to do this.
On a good note, I stopped to get my mail after I hobbled home on Saturday, and I finally got my prize. The first time I’ve actually been rewarded for running. I received two tickets for a Coyotes game for taking first in the 10k I ran back in October.
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday. Send me all your good thoughts and knee strength…I’m going to need it over the next few weeks!
Week 15 Summary: To heal. I finished out 6.5 miles, and worsened my injury.
Week 16 Goal: To heal, and to run again. I know I need to wait as long as possible, but it’s so hard to not be out there running. It’s what I want to be doing. The only thing allowing me to sit still is knowing the longer I wait the better chance I have at being healed enough to not set myself back.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Monday, December 17, 2007
Hurt so good...
Twenty-seven days and counting! With the holidays keeping us all busy, it’ll be here in just a blink of an eye. I’ve found myself with quite a hurdle this week, but I’m trying to remind myself to be patient and that I still have plenty of time to work through this.
Up until the last few days, it’s all been feeling pretty good. My runs still feel great, but the wear and tear running can have on your body is starting to become a reality. Although some pain has been popping up here and there, it made itself well known throughout my long run on Saturday. During a shorter run on Friday, I noticed some pain in the ball of my foot was worsening. Although I could run through it, it was far more constant than it had been. When I headed out for my long run on Saturday, there wasn’t a time my right foot hit the ground that a little “ow!” didn’t sound through my head. By the last mile or two that pain was joined by the all too familiar knee pain I’ve struggled with. I was able to finish out 9 miles, but I knew I couldn’t ignore that something’s wrong. I’ve opted to take a few days off and pair that with some advil to see if things get better. I’m still feeling the pain in the ball of my foot as I walk, but it has lessened in the last day. I’ve always hated that never ending stream of comments from non-runners about how they can’t run because it’s so bad for you, and they have bad knees or hips or elbows…there certainly are injury risks that come with running, just like any highly physical activity, but our bodies are amazing and resilient…I have plenty of faith with a little rest I’ll be enjoying some pain-free runs in no time. If nothing else, I’ll be out there wincing my way to the finish line in four weeks…hey, I admit it, I’m stubborn…although I like to think of it as committed and determined. I will dig deep and promise to go to the doctor if my foot doesn’t feel better by the end of the week…although I do believe this to be a common ailment among runners, and nothing more than some inflammation brought on by my increased distance.
The good news last week is I exceeded my distance and long run goal. I also ran more miles than I have in a previous week. I ran for a total of 24 miles, with a long run of nine miles. I’ve also now run more than 250 miles since I started training September 9th. I’ve finished out 252 miles in a little more than 37 hours. I was hopeful to hit 350 miles on race day, but if I’m having to scale my running back for a bit on account of my foot, I’m not sure it’s a good idea. I know once I set a goal for myself, I struggle on not doing everything possible to reach it…even if it brings some detrimental side effects…and I want to give myself the best chance to feel good come race day.
Week 14 Summary: Goal 23 miles, 8 mile long run. I exceeded both goals with a total of 24 miles, and a 9 mile long run. I completed my long run in 1:18:22 (8:42 miles). It’s the fastest pace I’ve completed a long run in other than when I ran the 10k at the end of October.
Week 15 Goal: To heal. I’m not going to set a distance or long run goal this week. As soon as my foot feels better, I’ll get out for some running. I’m hopeful that another day or two will bring that, but if it takes a few extra days, I’m doing my best to be sensible. I exceeded my recently adjusted long run goal last week again, so I should still be on track to run 10 miles next week.
Up until the last few days, it’s all been feeling pretty good. My runs still feel great, but the wear and tear running can have on your body is starting to become a reality. Although some pain has been popping up here and there, it made itself well known throughout my long run on Saturday. During a shorter run on Friday, I noticed some pain in the ball of my foot was worsening. Although I could run through it, it was far more constant than it had been. When I headed out for my long run on Saturday, there wasn’t a time my right foot hit the ground that a little “ow!” didn’t sound through my head. By the last mile or two that pain was joined by the all too familiar knee pain I’ve struggled with. I was able to finish out 9 miles, but I knew I couldn’t ignore that something’s wrong. I’ve opted to take a few days off and pair that with some advil to see if things get better. I’m still feeling the pain in the ball of my foot as I walk, but it has lessened in the last day. I’ve always hated that never ending stream of comments from non-runners about how they can’t run because it’s so bad for you, and they have bad knees or hips or elbows…there certainly are injury risks that come with running, just like any highly physical activity, but our bodies are amazing and resilient…I have plenty of faith with a little rest I’ll be enjoying some pain-free runs in no time. If nothing else, I’ll be out there wincing my way to the finish line in four weeks…hey, I admit it, I’m stubborn…although I like to think of it as committed and determined. I will dig deep and promise to go to the doctor if my foot doesn’t feel better by the end of the week…although I do believe this to be a common ailment among runners, and nothing more than some inflammation brought on by my increased distance.
The good news last week is I exceeded my distance and long run goal. I also ran more miles than I have in a previous week. I ran for a total of 24 miles, with a long run of nine miles. I’ve also now run more than 250 miles since I started training September 9th. I’ve finished out 252 miles in a little more than 37 hours. I was hopeful to hit 350 miles on race day, but if I’m having to scale my running back for a bit on account of my foot, I’m not sure it’s a good idea. I know once I set a goal for myself, I struggle on not doing everything possible to reach it…even if it brings some detrimental side effects…and I want to give myself the best chance to feel good come race day.
Week 14 Summary: Goal 23 miles, 8 mile long run. I exceeded both goals with a total of 24 miles, and a 9 mile long run. I completed my long run in 1:18:22 (8:42 miles). It’s the fastest pace I’ve completed a long run in other than when I ran the 10k at the end of October.
Week 15 Goal: To heal. I’m not going to set a distance or long run goal this week. As soon as my foot feels better, I’ll get out for some running. I’m hopeful that another day or two will bring that, but if it takes a few extra days, I’m doing my best to be sensible. I exceeded my recently adjusted long run goal last week again, so I should still be on track to run 10 miles next week.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Running ahead of schedule...
It’s coming up on just a month until the race. I’m feeling pretty well prepared considering the time I still have left. In fact I tied my longest run of training from last year this past weekend, and I still have five weeks of training. I didn’t run that distance last year until 5 days before the race, so it definitely boosts my confidence.
I exceeded both my distance and long run again last week. I ran 9.5 miles, the second longest distance I’ve ever run, the longest being last year’s half. It felt really good, and was actually a pretty easy run. I focused on keeping my pace between 8:45 and 9 minute miles, which I think is key in allowing me to keep from hitting exhaustion early. It’s a pace at which I can get into a good rhythm and stick with throughout the entire run. It’s what my focus will be on for the rest of training…finding my rhythm and sticking with it.
Because I’m a full mile ahead of my schedule for my long run, I’m opting to change it up a bit. I’m going to drop my long run back down to eight for this week, go to nine for next, and finish out week 16 with a ten mile run as originally scheduled. I’m concerned if I keep pushing my long run up I’ll fatigue myself before the race. I want to be fresh come January 13th, and as most experts advise, it’s best to taper down the week or two before a race.
Week 13 Summary: Goal 20 miles, 9 mile long run. I completed three runs for a total of 21 miles. I finished my long run of 9.5 miles in 1:24:28 (8:53).
Week 14 Goal: My goal this week is to complete a total of 23 miles, with a long run of 8 miles.
I exceeded both my distance and long run again last week. I ran 9.5 miles, the second longest distance I’ve ever run, the longest being last year’s half. It felt really good, and was actually a pretty easy run. I focused on keeping my pace between 8:45 and 9 minute miles, which I think is key in allowing me to keep from hitting exhaustion early. It’s a pace at which I can get into a good rhythm and stick with throughout the entire run. It’s what my focus will be on for the rest of training…finding my rhythm and sticking with it.
Because I’m a full mile ahead of my schedule for my long run, I’m opting to change it up a bit. I’m going to drop my long run back down to eight for this week, go to nine for next, and finish out week 16 with a ten mile run as originally scheduled. I’m concerned if I keep pushing my long run up I’ll fatigue myself before the race. I want to be fresh come January 13th, and as most experts advise, it’s best to taper down the week or two before a race.
Week 13 Summary: Goal 20 miles, 9 mile long run. I completed three runs for a total of 21 miles. I finished my long run of 9.5 miles in 1:24:28 (8:53).
Week 14 Goal: My goal this week is to complete a total of 23 miles, with a long run of 8 miles.
Monday, December 3, 2007
The final third...
How is it already December? It’s amazing to think there are just four weeks left in 2007, and less than six weeks until the run. As expected, road tripping cut into my running last week, although I think the few days of rest was probably a good break for my body.
I did exceed my long run goal last week, and completed an 8.5 mile run. My pace was 8:46, leaving me just under 75 minutes. The run felt pretty good, although the last half mile or so I really started to feel it in my knee. Last year I made it through all of training without much knee issue, but in the past my knees have sidelined me several times. I’m hoping the days off while we trudged across the country prove to be just what the doctor ordered. I had considered trying to get out for a run while on the trip, but mother nature said otherwise…and sometimes I realize ambition needs to meet sensibility.
Upon my return to AZ tomorrow night I’ll be getting right back into my running, as I wind my way through the last third of my training. My schedule sets me to run a maximum long run of 10 miles before the race, which is just a mile and a half further than last week. It makes it seem a little less daunting when I think of it that way. I’ve put myself a half mile ahead of my schedule over the past several weeks. I’m not sure if I’ll use that to get a longer long run in, or have an extra week of tapering at the end. It’s getting pretty exciting each week as my long run climbs and I get closer to the race and meeting my long term goals.
Week 12 Summary: 8 mile long run, no distance goal. I ran 8.5 miles in 1:14:38. I only got in one other run before leaving town which left me with a total weekly distance of 14.75 miles.
Week 13 Goal: Because I won’t have the opportunity to get out for a run until Wednesday, I’m only expecting to have three runs this week. My long run goal is 9 miles. My distance goal is 20 miles.
I did exceed my long run goal last week, and completed an 8.5 mile run. My pace was 8:46, leaving me just under 75 minutes. The run felt pretty good, although the last half mile or so I really started to feel it in my knee. Last year I made it through all of training without much knee issue, but in the past my knees have sidelined me several times. I’m hoping the days off while we trudged across the country prove to be just what the doctor ordered. I had considered trying to get out for a run while on the trip, but mother nature said otherwise…and sometimes I realize ambition needs to meet sensibility.
Upon my return to AZ tomorrow night I’ll be getting right back into my running, as I wind my way through the last third of my training. My schedule sets me to run a maximum long run of 10 miles before the race, which is just a mile and a half further than last week. It makes it seem a little less daunting when I think of it that way. I’ve put myself a half mile ahead of my schedule over the past several weeks. I’m not sure if I’ll use that to get a longer long run in, or have an extra week of tapering at the end. It’s getting pretty exciting each week as my long run climbs and I get closer to the race and meeting my long term goals.
Week 12 Summary: 8 mile long run, no distance goal. I ran 8.5 miles in 1:14:38. I only got in one other run before leaving town which left me with a total weekly distance of 14.75 miles.
Week 13 Goal: Because I won’t have the opportunity to get out for a run until Wednesday, I’m only expecting to have three runs this week. My long run goal is 9 miles. My distance goal is 20 miles.
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