Oh no, not again! That's just insane!
If you read the post directly below this one, you will probably anticipate what I am about to say.
I am going to run the 2007 San Francisco Marathon on July 29.
A brief summary of what's happened since my last post.
I ran some in the late summer and Fall, ranging from 22 to 36 miles per week, my longest run being 18 miles.
My kids were born. Magic entered my life, again!
I struggled to get in even 30 miles per week while dealing with sleep deprivation, diapers and soothing during the winter. I also discovered that last year's marathon preparation was the likely cause of a bone spur that formed on my fourth toe on my right foot. An operation in late December, and a slow recovery, including six weeks with no running at all.
I started back slowly in late January, plotting a cautious path to 35 miles a week, and started the Pfitzinger plan again, 18 weeks before the San Francisco Marathon. It was strangely easier this time, probably because of the familiarity.
However, initial pains in my left shin evolved into pain in my left knee that, at the end of the second week of the plan, became, unmistakably, an IT band problem. I ran through it, since it never got past the sensation of stiffness and very rare sharp pains. I even ran a 17 miler with the last 10 miles feeling stiff, but never really painful.
After three weeks of this, though, it wasn't getting any better despite some stretches and exercises with a foam roller, and I took Chris' advice: take advantage of a Recovery week by cutting back to 20 miles. I tried to start back up the next week and found the problem hadn't improved one bit, and to make matters worse, I thought I felt a sprain in my left ankle. I saw a doctor who confirmed that it was the IT band, and I started doing leg lift exercises described in a white paper Mike had sent me. I took two more weeks, following Galen's advice of running no more than 20 miles per week, with no run longer than 6 miles (roughly the distance I could go before feeling the stiffness in my knee).
Then I had a decision to make. Looking at the schedule, I figured I could work back into it in time to put in five really hard weeks, then taper for the race. However, another couple of weeks might really make sure the injury was healed. But if I took the two more weeks, there'd be no way for me to feel prepared for the marathon. I took the chance, thinking that if it got painful, I'd cancel my plans to run.
Will it be different from last year?
I actually feel better at this point than I did last year, even having missed the whole Lactate Threshold/Endurance Mesocycle. I did the same 22 mile course-preview run (with Chris, again) as last year, and not only did we run it faster, my legs felt much stronger and I was far less stiff at the end of the run.
I'm taking a less aggressive approach this year, planning to run on pace for 3:30, instead of aiming faster. I am tapering more strongly (11 fewer miles over the last three weeks). I will carbo load more scientifically. And, I'm going to carry my regular water bottle and focus on drinking more water, earlier.
I'm optimistic!
Check back in on July 30 for my race report!
I am going to run the 2007 San Francisco Marathon on July 29.
A brief summary of what's happened since my last post.
I ran some in the late summer and Fall, ranging from 22 to 36 miles per week, my longest run being 18 miles.
My kids were born. Magic entered my life, again!
I struggled to get in even 30 miles per week while dealing with sleep deprivation, diapers and soothing during the winter. I also discovered that last year's marathon preparation was the likely cause of a bone spur that formed on my fourth toe on my right foot. An operation in late December, and a slow recovery, including six weeks with no running at all.
I started back slowly in late January, plotting a cautious path to 35 miles a week, and started the Pfitzinger plan again, 18 weeks before the San Francisco Marathon. It was strangely easier this time, probably because of the familiarity.
However, initial pains in my left shin evolved into pain in my left knee that, at the end of the second week of the plan, became, unmistakably, an IT band problem. I ran through it, since it never got past the sensation of stiffness and very rare sharp pains. I even ran a 17 miler with the last 10 miles feeling stiff, but never really painful.
After three weeks of this, though, it wasn't getting any better despite some stretches and exercises with a foam roller, and I took Chris' advice: take advantage of a Recovery week by cutting back to 20 miles. I tried to start back up the next week and found the problem hadn't improved one bit, and to make matters worse, I thought I felt a sprain in my left ankle. I saw a doctor who confirmed that it was the IT band, and I started doing leg lift exercises described in a white paper Mike had sent me. I took two more weeks, following Galen's advice of running no more than 20 miles per week, with no run longer than 6 miles (roughly the distance I could go before feeling the stiffness in my knee).
Then I had a decision to make. Looking at the schedule, I figured I could work back into it in time to put in five really hard weeks, then taper for the race. However, another couple of weeks might really make sure the injury was healed. But if I took the two more weeks, there'd be no way for me to feel prepared for the marathon. I took the chance, thinking that if it got painful, I'd cancel my plans to run.
- 40 mile week - nothing, no pain in the knee
- 50 mile week - still no pain
- 58 mile week - halfway into this week I registered for the race
- 55 mile week - I started putting in more miles than plan, and substituting LT Interval runs for the 5x600 track workouts
- 55 mile week
- 56 mile week
- Taper!
Will it be different from last year?
I actually feel better at this point than I did last year, even having missed the whole Lactate Threshold/Endurance Mesocycle. I did the same 22 mile course-preview run (with Chris, again) as last year, and not only did we run it faster, my legs felt much stronger and I was far less stiff at the end of the run.
I'm taking a less aggressive approach this year, planning to run on pace for 3:30, instead of aiming faster. I am tapering more strongly (11 fewer miles over the last three weeks). I will carbo load more scientifically. And, I'm going to carry my regular water bottle and focus on drinking more water, earlier.
I'm optimistic!
Check back in on July 30 for my race report!
posted by Brent at
7:11 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home