18 miles! And now I need some advice
I ran my 18 miles today, a new distance record for me! 2:54:59. The pace was a little bit faster than I wanted but otherwise I’m pretty pleased. I ran at Kensington MetroPark for the first time and its a really great park for running. Like all the Metroparks, it has a paved path for bikes and stuff but Kensington is very large and has a lake in the middle. There’s an 8 mile loop around the lake, which makes for a good spot for those long runs without having to worry about cars.
I had perfect weather this morning, overcast skies and and mid 60’s temps, with a little breeze. And everyone and his brother was out on the path too. Team in Training had their training run there, and Two Dogs Running had their marathon long run group there as well. Besides all that, today was the Kensington Challenge race too! I ended up in the middle of when the leaders were coming in to the finish for both the 5K and the 15K, and had to jump onto the grass to make sure I wasn’t slowing them up.
I was also keeping an eye out for Mouse because I knew she was out there for her 20 miler today. Never did spot her, but I hope she had a good run. Go Mouse!
Ok, here’s the whining.
My left shin was screaming for a large part of the run. I can deal with that. And I felt very good otherwise for most of the run. I took two gels along the way, 8 and 13 miles. Drank lots of fluids and even stopped halfway at the truck to refuel. I was a bit overhydrated and had to make a pitstop at mile 5 which I personally find really annoying because I’ve done well most other times and I should have been ok here. I’ve never had to stop during a race and I thought I had prepped for this about the same as a race.
When I hit about 16 miles, I really started to feel bad. Dead legs and just dragging with that all over pain that says, my legs have had enough. If I were in the marathon, I would expect that I was fast approaching “the wall”. Maybe this gets better?
Pain. My left heel had significant pain for the last 9 miles or so. It is in the back, near the base (not on the bottom of my heel). The spot is about the size of a quarter and is painful when I press on it, like a bruise. It hurts when I walk or do a calf stretch or any kind.
Please tell me this is not an achilles tendon injury. It sounds like one and if it is, then I will most likely cry. Alot. I’m friggin’ 5 weeks from the marathon (AGAIN) and if this is a new injury creeping in (AGAIN), I don’t think I have the stregth to handle this rationally. I will very likely have to become hysterical and frantic and throw things.
What do I do? Ice? Heat? Rest? Crosstraining? Walking? Vitamins? Chocolate? I’m good on the chocolate.
September 17th, 2005 17:55
Good that you made it the 18 miles. Bad that the heel hurts so badly. Ice? Yes. Chocolate? Yes. I can’t help much more than that since I’ve not had similar injuries. My son’s XC Team doctor wrote in the latest newsletter that when something hurts in the legs or feet you have to listen to the pain and not try running through it. Deal with it or it gets worse, he says. Try the ice for starters.
When you mentioned the Two Dogs Running I thought you were out there with Idiot and Tripod or something. Those pups get around!
September 17th, 2005 21:08
Jon, I can’t speak to the heel pain, I have no experience there. Ice certainly sounds like a good idea. Ibuprofen too? If you’re investigating and it sounds like a particular thing, are there stretches or modifications you can do?
As for the shin, I tell you that my shin wrap ( http://completerunning.com/running-in-place/wp-admin/post.php?action=confirmdeletecomment&p=113&comment=3155 ) helped me tremendously!
I’m thinking positive for you for whatever good that might do, don’t be getting all nervous just yet.
September 17th, 2005 22:33
okay. i have no idea what is wrong as i have not had those particular injuries. i DID just want to tell you that it’s possible to take a few weeks off (i took three weeks off) about the same amount of time before my last marathon due to injury (weird foot injury) and i managed to finish the marathon. DO NOT panic. rest, breathe, and ice. if it last for a couple days maybe try to see a sports doc sooner rather than later just b/c you don’t really have time to wait out this injury like a normal one.
i am so sorry to hear this news. :(
September 17th, 2005 23:03
Jon, I’m 99% certain it is achilles tendonitis but that doesn’t mean you are done. Just ice it and it should be ok. It was probably just a bit tender.
And good job on the run. Don’t worry about the crappiness. If there’s one thing I know training for 6 marathons, it’s that there are ALWAYS going to be good and bad runs no matter how fit you are.
:) Mark
September 17th, 2005 23:58
hmm, no advice from me,, tho chocolate and rest sound very reasonable to me…….that is :) still you are doing amazing 18 miles… jaw drops..
Heather
September 18th, 2005 01:38
I totally sympathize with how you’re feeling. Just see my blog for how depressed I was feeling a week ago. But it can get better.
Without too much experience under my belt, I agree with what’s being said here. Don’t freak out. You ran a long time. It hurts. Not that surprising. (i.e. doesn’t mean you have an “injury”.) Take a few rest days. Skip a run or wo if that’s what you need to feel better. In the meantime ice it to keep the inflammation down.
Report back in a couple of days time.
September 18th, 2005 07:58
I’m so sorry to hear you’re not feeling 100% fantastic, injuries suck big hairy sock. My remedy is - and has always been - ice-cream. Thicker and multiple-calorie-loaded the better. Helps for autumn colds too.
September 18th, 2005 09:44
Oh Jon!
Take the advice not to freak out. Go see a sports doctor and frind out exactly what is going on. I have to admit that I’d be with you on the hysterical thing after all the training time you’ve put in. Try not to go there! And you should be proud of having your longest run to date. Congratulations on that!
September 18th, 2005 10:21
Congrats on the run!! Way to put the mileage in and at a faster pace. Have you had someone take a look at your kicks? Maybe they can just put in an insert to relieve some of the pain you are experiencing. With those long distances you’re just going to experience and something you can’t forsee or predict. Make sure you are stretching that area before and after you run, and ice! You might have a sports trainer look at it and he/she would be able to give you some stretches, moreso than I could describe over this thing. Don’t freak out, just take it easy and don’t run on it until you’re able to relieve some of the pain. The worse thing you’d could do is continue to train on it…otherwise chocolate is a good option. FINISH STRONG!
September 18th, 2005 14:04
Not familiar with the heel pain, but I am familiar with dead legs! For me, after about 3 hours of running, I need some sort of food in my stomach (gummi worms), and some electrolyte tablets as well. I think that is when my breakfast and powerbar and gels are all burned out and I don’t have enough fuel anymore and I need more than a gel. Don’t know if that helps…
September 18th, 2005 15:05
chocolate cures everything doesn’t it? Good for you and the 18 miles…I am green with envy.
I hope the heel feels better!
September 18th, 2005 16:25
I’m with everyone on the Chocolate in any form and lots of it. :-)
Good job on getting the run done despite the pain. Speaking of which, a sports medicine doctor or Sports Chriropactor (spelling) who can check your gait, shoes or whatever may not be working to its best performance. I went to one once and some little stretches he gave me made all the difference in the world.
Good luck Jon!!!
September 18th, 2005 20:20
Hooray for 18 miles!! I?m sorry I don?t have any advice, just listen to the other RBF members. :)
September 19th, 2005 10:23
Wow, that’s a long run. I don’t have any advice for heel pain, maybe heat and ice rotation.
September 19th, 2005 15:32
My Achilles tendon problems hit a little further up the back of my leg, so I always had the impression it was a little bit higher, but around the same time as yours prior to my marathon. I’d see if it’s maybe your shoes, and take a few days off if you can.. Mine went away once I switched back to an old model of shoes and did some stretching exercises from that same website you have linked for IT band stuff. Now if I could only get the IT band issue licked…
September 19th, 2005 15:51
ice, stretching and copious amounts of fluids will help most injuries. treat yourself to a couple weeks of massages, too. maybe one a week until the week before the race.
it may very well be tendonitis, but it also sounds like a bone spur. either way, you should still be able to race if you pamper your body.
don’t underestimate the hydration item, though. that helps TONS.
September 20th, 2005 12:15
I am super familiar with heel spurs and achilles tendon. The treatment I follow, with good results, is ice, of course; rest, of course; doing your achilles tendons stretches religiously several times a day; and take a tennis ball and roll it around with the affected foot. That last thing seems silly, but it really does help.