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Runtime Error: Boring and stupid, stupid and boring
Being injured is stupid, and boring. And it ruins everything.
And I am sorry I have not written here in 2 weeks.
When we last parted, I was mentioning that my knees were killing me. That may have been hyperbole. I was never truly close to death. And I had no idea how much worse it was going to get.
That Saturday I went out for 20 (twenty) and the weather was about as perfect as can be. I am trying to keep a closer eye on nutrition and hydration while running, so I took an additional water bottle and some extra calories. I ran a great 15 (fifteen), an okay 2 and 1/2, and then had to walk run the last few.
As I look back over my few months of training I am beginning to see that 17 (Linsanity) miles appears to be my current breaking point.
It's an IT band issue in my right leg. It had come up once before a few years ago when I tried to add some hill work into my training and I overdid it. I got out of that mess mostly by stretching, stretching and stretching and cutting out the hills for a while. And maybe taking a few weeks off. It worked, and the issue has never come up again until now.
It's a funny pain on the outside of the knee that is sharp and can stop you in your tracks. But this time I could also feel the pain on the front of my shin and in my hip and lower butt. I could flip over to Kylie Minogue on the iPod and push out another mile at full speed (Kylie cures all) but then I had to walk run again until I got home.
This is a frightening situation. The marathon is 6 (six!?!) weeks away and it doesn't feel like there is any time to really take a break and recover. I don't want to end up walking the last 4 (four) miles wrapped in a reflective blanket, spitting and cursing. (Okay, I may be spitting and cursing at that point no matter what).
Luckily, a co-worker of mine ran this thing a few years ago AND has a friend who knows sports medicine. And I am addicted to the internet so I was able to put together a quick prescription for myself.
Take a few days off.
Take 2 Aleve each morning (I HATE taking any kind of medicine but this is supposed to reduce the swelling. Brendan Brazier suggests hemp protein and flax seed, and I take this regularly, but its time to get serious for at least a week or two.)
MORE foam rolling
Wear my dorky IT band strap thingy to compress the band when running
So, I put off my speed work for 4 days and ran that one pretty much pain free. Cut my tempo run down to 6 miles (from 10) yesterday and had an awesome time of it, running with my sister at the family gym in CT and then a dreaded 15 miles on the treadmill (wtf) at home today.
15 turned into 12 as the pain, and boredom, started to creep in.
I am still afraid, but I have to push through. I'll keep up my new routine of pill popping, stretching and rolling and hopefully I'll be able to get my weekly mileage in. I have 20 schedule for this weekend and I love my long runs.
I'm running the Boston Marathon with team AccesSportAmerica. Please support me by donating today!
http://www.crowdrise.com/crosol
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