The three weeks since the Bath Half have, frankly, been a struggle. As already noted in a couple of my posts I had been struggling with a knee problem which despite the success of two sub 1:40 (well sub 1:39's actually :)! ) halfs had got progressively worse over a number of weeks, severely curtailing my training.
Initially, when it started, it didn't seem to matter so much as it meant I tapered for Wokingham and Bath and then enjoyed some success timewise. The writing was on the wall though suring Bath when I know, without the terrible pain in my knee I could have got around a couple of so minutes faster.
Post Bath things have got worse. The first week was no running at all. Last week was no running until Thursday and then a couple of short ones followed by a disaster last Sunday where I ended up walking home from Ashton Court unable to continue due to the searing pain.
This week, so far has been the same. No running Monday to Thursday then a 4 and yesterday a 6.25. It doesn't sound much but that 6.25 is the longest I have run non-stock since Bath and whilst it wasn't entirely pain free it was much more manageable.
I have been debating with myself over the last few weeks whether I will need to defer until the 2011 marathon. Whilst I have missed a fair bit of training in the last few weeks so many miles have been done over the last few months that that is not necessarily an insurmountable problem. Of course, as any runner will tell you, we will try and run until literally we physically can't but there is a huge difference between my running now and last year. Last years marathon was just about getting around, putting my chubby body through it and seeing if I come out of the other end. This year my expectations are so much higher, any time over 4 hours would be something of a disappointment. So what to do the lure of the London marathon or the sensible option.
Clearly I need to do some serious miles and quickly and realistically a lack of very long run this weekend will probably answer the question for me. Lucy is away so unless I make a (long) trip into South Wales where there is a 20 mile race I am pretty much motivating myself - and maybe that's not a bad thing - perhaps I need to prove to myself that my hunger for this race is still there. In the back of my mind I have been gradually withdrawing from the 2010 race now I have a glimmer of hope I need to prove to myself that I still want it or whether I have become too side tracked chasing half marathon times.
So why the glimmer of hope? Well this week I finally know what the issue is - ITBS.
Illi..thingy band syndrome. Basically my ITB is so tight it is pulling on the tendons in my leg which is misalligning my kneecap and causing the problem.
The treatment is painfull - deep tissue massage - but if it means I get to run London it will be worth it. I have had a thigh problem for a long time, and basically its a chain reaction as the knot in my thigh tightens the muscle it pulls on the tendons, pulling stuff out of line which unbalances the muscles which means they get more knotted. Bizarrely now I know what is causing it when it twinges as I run mentally I am more able to deal with it. Clearly 6.25 miles is 20 short of the target but it's a start.
Tomorrow brings an attempt at a long run - it has to be at least 16 miles (preferrably more) - otherwise it maybe time for that big decision...
Saturday, 27 March 2010
Monday, 8 March 2010
A Nice Bath....
At last an enjoyable Bath Half...!
Last year I swore I would never do it again but after years of messing it up I think finally the organisers got it spot on.
I took the train over to Bath which meant a nice leisurely arrival, strolling into the Runners Village at just after 10. After my Wokingham experience I decided to put my bag straight in. As it was a nice temperature this really wasn't a hardship and was made even better by having such a low number which meant that my baggage drop was the first one.
As an affiliated club runner my starting pen was just behind the elite runners. Again, this meant that the access point was perfectly located from the Rec. There was one delay whilst many orange and green runners tried to get to the start via the white entrance. But once they had all turned around it was quick and easy to get to not only the start line but also a mass rank of virtually unused loos!
Saw a number of GWR runners at the start and then after a rousing round of applause for gold medal winning AMy Williams, one of the starters, we were off.
Now the downside of starting so far forward quickly became apparent as I completed the first mile in 6:52 and the second in 6:57. I made myself slow down as there was no way I would keep that pace up all the way around. As it was miles 8-11 the pain in my knee was back. I had taken thursday, friday and saturday off again because of it and in someways perhaps I shouldn't have been running at all. However, I clung on and managed one ambition of getting to the second lap without being taken over!
In the end I completed the race in 1:38:59 - so just 24 seconds outside of my Wokingham time and 27 minutes faster than my 2009 Bath Half time. My chip 10K time was 45:03 which would be a new 10K PB!
The downside is what damage it has done. My knee was very, very sore post run. I am disappointed that I didn't have the strength of mind not to run and conserve my knee - I have obviously taken my eye off of the marathon prize a little. But then also I am disappointed that the problem with my knee had slowed me down as my first 6/7 mile splits were much better than my Wokingham times.
As the train pulled out of the station I looked over and could see people still running - that would have been me last year. I suppose I should be happy with how far I have come in a year - but unfortunately along with speed I have gained a desire to compete!
Last year I swore I would never do it again but after years of messing it up I think finally the organisers got it spot on.
I took the train over to Bath which meant a nice leisurely arrival, strolling into the Runners Village at just after 10. After my Wokingham experience I decided to put my bag straight in. As it was a nice temperature this really wasn't a hardship and was made even better by having such a low number which meant that my baggage drop was the first one.
As an affiliated club runner my starting pen was just behind the elite runners. Again, this meant that the access point was perfectly located from the Rec. There was one delay whilst many orange and green runners tried to get to the start via the white entrance. But once they had all turned around it was quick and easy to get to not only the start line but also a mass rank of virtually unused loos!
Saw a number of GWR runners at the start and then after a rousing round of applause for gold medal winning AMy Williams, one of the starters, we were off.
Now the downside of starting so far forward quickly became apparent as I completed the first mile in 6:52 and the second in 6:57. I made myself slow down as there was no way I would keep that pace up all the way around. As it was miles 8-11 the pain in my knee was back. I had taken thursday, friday and saturday off again because of it and in someways perhaps I shouldn't have been running at all. However, I clung on and managed one ambition of getting to the second lap without being taken over!
In the end I completed the race in 1:38:59 - so just 24 seconds outside of my Wokingham time and 27 minutes faster than my 2009 Bath Half time. My chip 10K time was 45:03 which would be a new 10K PB!
The downside is what damage it has done. My knee was very, very sore post run. I am disappointed that I didn't have the strength of mind not to run and conserve my knee - I have obviously taken my eye off of the marathon prize a little. But then also I am disappointed that the problem with my knee had slowed me down as my first 6/7 mile splits were much better than my Wokingham times.
As the train pulled out of the station I looked over and could see people still running - that would have been me last year. I suppose I should be happy with how far I have come in a year - but unfortunately along with speed I have gained a desire to compete!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
