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...
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