A slight injury setback - Marathon T

Into my eighth month of training and I have now suffered my first serious training injury.

Monday last week:
As I was on holiday with the family for a week, I decided to run the 12 miles out to the beach in the morning. The run was fine – no dramas, it took me 1:40. We then spent the day on the beach and in the surf.

Tuesday:
After a full day on the beach I decided to run home – same route as Monday (but in reverse). The first two miles of the run were hard work as there are a couple of serious uphill stretches. After these there is a nice 3 mile section of gentle downhill. The run was going fine (I was a bit tired but nothing serious) until I got to the end. As soon as I stopped my right leg seized up and a pain shot down the outside of my knee. I hobbled to the house and grabbed an ice pack, for the next hour or so I was icing and stretching the knee in some pain. I spent the evening limping around and keeping the leg up.

The next day my knee was very sore – so more icing and rest (on the beach again) and I decided to lay off the running for a week.

One week later….

I went for my first run for a week on Tuesday, taking it very easy I ran 30 mins @ 8:34/mile pace. No ill effects, I felt a few twinges from the leg but put this down to paranoia.

Wednesday I decided to step it up a bit.

2 miles @ 8:34/mile
2.5 miles @ 8:00/mile
2 miles @ 7:30/mile

Total of 6.5 miles - bringing the two days to 10 miles.

Again, the knee had a few twinges but generally felt ok.

I now have to schedule in a long run this weekend, to test it out over an extended period. My Marathon training should be entering its final phase now (with only 5 weeks of serious work to go). I am getting concerned I don’t have enough miles in my legs at this stage, and I am going to struggle when we get past 20 miles. With this in mind I spoke to the old codger last night to get his view. He reassured me I would be ok based on what I’d told him of my training so far – plus I will have him there to keep an eye on the pace and let me know when it gets harder/easier etc. Still, for anyone who has not tried marathon training I can confirm it is a major commitment and remembering back to London in April – I have a new respect for everyone who was pounding the pavements (in whatever time) over 26.2 miles.

Marathon T

p.s. sorry no photos from far flung destinations – some of us work for a living (apologies Marathon J – low blow)!!