Welcome to my Worst Nightmare!

Seriously, what is a marathoners worst dream? Answer, INCONSISTENT training!! OMG I want to rip my own toenails out. This is the worst marathon build up I've done in my history of marathon training. Yes, all TWO marathons that I've done. haha.

So, I thought I was out of the woods on the last post. But my improvement is, uhhhh...SHIT. I like to be objective so let's talk data:

*I can run
*I don't have a diagnosable injury
*My lower legs are constantly sore. Similar to post marathon sore.
 
So being the good little grasshopper that I am I have:

*run less mileage 60-70/week
*more doubles to break up the day
*Most easy runs. Only because my legs won't GO. Think tin man.
* I swim almost everyday. Not splish splash pool play, but 1,2,3...GO freestyle. lol

Last week out of no where I was able to do a 5 mile tempo descending to 6:35 on the treadmill and a 16 mile long run at 7:48 pace. The week before 15 miles at nearly 7:52 pace (gasp). And no tempo that week. So, as you can imagine this is runner purgatory to me. I could see if it lasted a week or 2 but it's been a good 3 weeks since my injury resolved (tendinitis).

My chief complaint is sore calves with on and off shin split pain. I've increased slowly, ran slowly, never run in pain, and switched to heavy mizuno's....nothing gives! So clearly, this must be a time thing. I will just wait it out and run what I can until then. The only ball buster is uhhh...the freaking marathon I'm training for! CHICAGO!

So my thoughts on that are:

*I can only do what I can do training wise.
*I believe in miracles!
*I will not give up this soon
*I will be realistic
*I will add humor along the way because hello...I'm not Shalane. It's ok.

I looked for a back up marathon for November/December but I didn't love anything in particular. I really still want Chicago! And that doesn't mean a 3:15 Chicago. Y'all know by now I'm not training for a personal worst. I wouldn't attend a marathon that will set me back a good $800 in travel to "have fun." Crap, not if it were $50. That's not how I roll. Balls to the walls or nothing.

So, in a third person kind of way I'm curious to see how this plays out. There are a few things I have on my side:

*My fitness level is always the same. Once I get back there it doesn't really change. So once my legs have fluidity I have no doubt I will cruise.
*My endurance is probably the best it's ever been. 26.2 doesn't seem far per se.
*I believe in miracles

So the giddy up is hiding right now but I will plug away with my hobby jogger pace until that one fantastic morning I can roll hard again. Hopefully by Wednesday!

Thanks for reading and putting up with my over the top asterisk abuse. You know me, all or nothing!

Party on guys!
Laura

Herrrrre, muscle memory, come over here...there ya go. good boy!

Hey Guys!

What a difference a week makes. I am feeling much better. I really underestimated the effects of not running for 13 days. Cardio wise I felt fine. But as I always say, nothing compares to the run. I can cross train my ass off 3 hours a day. But that first week back is tough. It really makes me appreciate my fitness.

So after a few devastating runs in the heat and humidity that left me on the side of the greenway doing air pukes I decided to "fuck that" and go on the treadmill. I completely lost my ability to push through in the heat and humidity. And because cooler weather is coming I don't really care to get it back. So I'm treadmilling it until this cold front come through.

I've done a few 8 milers and an 11 today. The pace is dropping nicely. Today I ran what normally would be a fail, yet given the "situation" I'm very pleased. 11 miles. The first hour at 7:30 pace and then the last 3 miles at 6:53 pace. I've never gone that fast on a treadmill. So it was a milestone for sure!

I'm still being very cautious but feel strong and really happy with my progress.

Here are some pictures of the pool.

My running partner and my mom. 

all day every day!

The most challenging part of a swim workout! Getting out!

Mum was not pleased with her slouch so we had to redo this one.

There we go, no slouch!

So cross training can be fun! I'll keep plugging away and keep you posted! Happy Running!

Laura

My 13 day injury: GONE!

YES! I made it! I survived my first case of ankle tendonitis. I figured it's worth a post about what I did and didn't do.

I could feel tightness in my lower leg for at least a good week, but when it really got me I could not run. I went from okay one day to limping while I walk the next. Clearly, total devastation mid marathon training.

What it takes to sit on your ass and heal I DON'T have. I can't do it. It's my personality. So, first I went to my ortho to make sure it wasn't a fx or anything serious. He said to chill a few days. So with that I skipped away and for 13 days I...

*took my road bike out 1-3 hours a day
*swam 45 mins to 1 hour a day, sometimes twice a day
*went to the gym a few times
*increased my protein intake and paid extra attn to inflammatory foods and cut them out.

a selfie @ 16mph!

mid solo 50 miler

*saw my PT several times a week
*received Graston Technique to break up my calf scar tissue. LOVE it. It needs it's own post.
*stretched a lot, iced 4-5x a day, NSAIDS, rice.

That sounds PSYCHO. But at the time I was doing what I felt would get me back on the run asap. I limped for a week while walking. Then I could walk normally with minimal pain. I made a rule that I needed 2 days of zero pain and zero limping before I would try to run. I thought I had it a few times but as soon as I'd feel a twinge I'd start the 2 days over.

Finally, I got my 2 days and went out for a 5 miler. It was rough. I didn't have injury pain but my legs were torn up from a 50 mile bike and a lot of strong swimming. I was sore and my legs did not feel fluid.

The next day I ran 8 and then 9 miles today. All of it is slow. 7:40-8:00 pace. Each day I have felt better. I think by Monday I'll be back to my normal self. I'm just being super careful.

Sooooo, this all begs the question: CAN I STILL RUN A 2:55 IN CHICAGO? I've got 9 weeks left. I've done several 18-20 milers. Well, we will find out! I'm not a quitter. I am realistic though. So, we will see how I do the next few weeks. I'm not going to go run 20 this Sunday. I'm going to be smart about this and see where it takes me. I think it's kind of exciting. : )

My back and arms have been SOOO sore so clearly, this calls for a photo check. Holy shit balls! I'm skeered of me. haha That's from freestyle swimming all day errry day.

So, that's about it. Hopefully this post finds some pissed off runner with a sore ankle going WTF is this?? I'll keep you updated as I see where my fitness is.

Thanks for reading!

Laura

No news is bad news!

Hey Guys!!

I am sorry for the lack of updates. I *was* stoked to ramp up my mileage and get this Chicago training going. But then my legs started to feel a little tight. I couldn't stride out like I'm used to. I felt weird. Then my ankle started to ache. And ache and then SCREAM!

Laura meet tendonitis. Tendonitis meet Laura. Bitch!

So for 2 weeks I've been off the run. I ran once last Saturday and felt great only to feel beat down on Sunday. Initially, I thought it was a stress fx and waited a good 3 weeks for an X-ray. That was negative and it was acting more like a tendon issue. Perhaps heading into the soleus.

So you know what I've been up to. 25+ miler daily bike rides and a good hour of freestyle swim. Every day. I want to keep my fitness, but more so because I really enjoy the other 2 sports. I never do them unless I'm injured so I'm taking advantage.

Here it is in pictures:

Me happily running a double a week prior to disaster fest. I was on a beach vacation....

I circled the area that hurt and started texting friends for advice

Surely, ice is the answer...

....uh, help

I could tape and run...for a day

I give up!

This is my first soft tissue running injury. I usually just break the freakin bone and get it done. I feel much, much better and planned on getting a trial run in this weekend. But I'm so afraid of putting on my running gear and taking 2 steps and getting that stabbing pain again. So, I'm erring on the side of caution and I'll probably wait until Monday. Sunday is made for long runs. Not gimpy striders in the driveway. I can't handle that! So Monday it is!

Oddly, I'm not super stressed. I haven't ruled out Chicago. I need to see where this takes me. Right now I'm babysitting my fitness and nerves the best I can. Who knows, I could be fine by Monday or hell I could get hit by a truck. I am going to take the days as they come and enjoy my fitness and hope for the best!

I'm going to update more often to hopefully help another injured runnah...or for comic relief....

Enjoy your long run tomorrow! 

Laura

exactly!