David
I'm running my first marathon November 2. I've been adhering religiously to a training schedule, and
this past week was supposed to be my first tapering-off week, going down from the 40-mile-weeks I've
been doing for the last month (my training has included 3 runs of 18- 20 miles).
But...
Last weekend (4 weeks before the marathon), I raced a half-marathon and had a best personal time of
1:49:16. I tried for a good time because I thought it would be fun, and didn't imagine I would have
any adverse affects. I was in a lot of pain afterwards, though (as sore as after any 20-mile run I'd
done), and on my next run, just a 4-miler two days later, it hurt a LOT -- especially in my left
thigh. It felt like I was running the last 4 miles of a marathon or something (although I wouldn't
know for sure, because I'm training for my first). I figured I was just more sore than usual from
pushing myself in the half, and when I did another 4 miles the next day, it still hurt a lot but
slightly less.
I was supposed to do another 4 miles the next day, but decided another day of rest instead would be
good. I was beginning to worry. So after taking Thursday off (with much guilt), I did another 4
miles on Friday. It hurt so much I began to worry that I may not just be sore, but actually injured.
It felt like I was doing the last 4 miles of a 15-mile run, when it should have just been easy!
After Friday's run, I felt a new pain. I think I have developed a shin splint (both my
inner-shin and calf hurt a lot), possibly from changing my running form to compensate for the
thigh muscle pain.
I was supposed to do 20 miles this weekend, but decided I still need time to recover, so I didn't
run at all this weekend.
So now it's Monday, a week after the half-marathon, and only three weeks from Marathon Day. After
taking the whole weekend off, I decided to try a short gentle run today. I didn't run very far --
perhaps a half-mile. In just that half-mile, I could tell that my thigh was getting better (but not
perfect yet) but my SHIN IS KILLING ME!!!! From the very first step, my shin was screaming in pain.
So am I just screwed!? Can I really take off time to heal, skipping my tapering-off period, and
still be able to run 26.2 miles in 3 weeks? Can I even heal that quickly?
This 11th-hour injury is my worst fear come true. I'm incredibly depressed skipping training runs. I
am even more depressed at the idea of not running the marathon for which I've been training for so
long. This has been my goal for two years (when I started out I couldn't even run a mile), and the
idea of not going through with it has seriously got me depressed like I can't even believe.
Any words of advice?
this past week was supposed to be my first tapering-off week, going down from the 40-mile-weeks I've
been doing for the last month (my training has included 3 runs of 18- 20 miles).
But...
Last weekend (4 weeks before the marathon), I raced a half-marathon and had a best personal time of
1:49:16. I tried for a good time because I thought it would be fun, and didn't imagine I would have
any adverse affects. I was in a lot of pain afterwards, though (as sore as after any 20-mile run I'd
done), and on my next run, just a 4-miler two days later, it hurt a LOT -- especially in my left
thigh. It felt like I was running the last 4 miles of a marathon or something (although I wouldn't
know for sure, because I'm training for my first). I figured I was just more sore than usual from
pushing myself in the half, and when I did another 4 miles the next day, it still hurt a lot but
slightly less.
I was supposed to do another 4 miles the next day, but decided another day of rest instead would be
good. I was beginning to worry. So after taking Thursday off (with much guilt), I did another 4
miles on Friday. It hurt so much I began to worry that I may not just be sore, but actually injured.
It felt like I was doing the last 4 miles of a 15-mile run, when it should have just been easy!
After Friday's run, I felt a new pain. I think I have developed a shin splint (both my
inner-shin and calf hurt a lot), possibly from changing my running form to compensate for the
thigh muscle pain.
I was supposed to do 20 miles this weekend, but decided I still need time to recover, so I didn't
run at all this weekend.
So now it's Monday, a week after the half-marathon, and only three weeks from Marathon Day. After
taking the whole weekend off, I decided to try a short gentle run today. I didn't run very far --
perhaps a half-mile. In just that half-mile, I could tell that my thigh was getting better (but not
perfect yet) but my SHIN IS KILLING ME!!!! From the very first step, my shin was screaming in pain.
So am I just screwed!? Can I really take off time to heal, skipping my tapering-off period, and
still be able to run 26.2 miles in 3 weeks? Can I even heal that quickly?
This 11th-hour injury is my worst fear come true. I'm incredibly depressed skipping training runs. I
am even more depressed at the idea of not running the marathon for which I've been training for so
long. This has been my goal for two years (when I started out I couldn't even run a mile), and the
idea of not going through with it has seriously got me depressed like I can't even believe.
Any words of advice?
