Tuesday, September 4, 2012

No more marathon

This past weekend I was able to venture to the less than stellar states of Iowa and Nebraska to complete a double header, state 32 and 33 for my half marathon quest. Although the recaps are coming it can be boiled down into a very quick synopsis:

It sucked

My knee gave out both days before mile 2,  1.8 miles on day 1, 1.77 miles  on day 2 (yup I checked my watch) For those who are wondering what is going on- I have plica inflammation in the knee. Kim R thought it was PICA when I first told her, and apparently that would mean I eat chalk- so a brief explanation on what it actually is: Quite simply is the inflammation of synovial (plica tissue) in your knee. Symptoms and pain wise, it mimics what a meniscal tear or patellar tendonitis would feel like.   Although you can run in terms of not having to worry about any more damage, you have to be able to endure the pain. I'm pretty good with pushing through pain as I did it for 3 months worth of races when I had ITBS in 2011, but unfortunately this pain is much worse, and unlike ITBS, it doesn't go away as soon as I stop running. This pain lingers for a few days and I look quite pathetic trying to go down any stairs (up is fine), as well as attempting to  walk without a limp. (its really quite sexy)

Although I am stubborn, I'm also not an idiot. it's one thing for me to push through and go ahead and complete another half marathon on a double header weekend because I know my body can at least get through it, however I've never ran a full marathon before. Yes I've already completed my 20 miler and 21 miler,  but running a race is not the same thing as practice runs since I go out at a faster pace. So as much as it pains me to do it, I'm pulling the plug on the Air Force Marathon in two weeks.




My focus has always been on the 50 state quest and I decided to do a marathon just for fun and to say I did one- unfortunately I'm not going to jeopardize future races just so I can have bragging rights to finally completing a marathon (that would be stupid on my part)

The only thing that will make my knee better is rest, and unfortunately its been a month of me minimally running (pretty much my LR on weekend, MAYBE 1 short run during week) and its only gotten worse. I'm hoping that the Air Force Race director will let me drop down my registration to a half (both full and half sold out months ago)- depending on how I feel that day I might go easy and pace my brother at his attempt to break 2 hours. Otherwise it might be a first and I'll just be a race cheerleader for all those that are running.

Eventually I may get a marathon under my belt- next time it will NOT be an early fall one so I can at least have better training temps than this past summer, but for the time being, I have no immediate plans to run one. I'm trying to remind myself that this summer was not a waste because I was still able to learn a lot about pushing myself beyond what I thought I could do and when I'm back 100% I will use that for future races.

Have you ever had to make a tough race decision?
This is actually the first time I said no to a big race that I've been working toward for months- I'm just glad that I did the double header otherwise I would have went into marathon blind and probably would have had my first DNF 

13 comments:

  1. Oh, bummer. I've had to drop out of two marathons (both supposed to be my first!) after getting pregnant and then having a femoral stress fracture. Now I'm 3 weeks out from my REAL (hopefully) first marathon, and I'm just hoping to make it to the start.

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  2. Sorry to hear that! Yes, over the last 6 months, I've had to DNS a few races, and obviously, I had that DNF at Moab. It sucks when your body gives up before your mind. Been there.

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  3. :( sorry Lisa but you are right, you can always run a marathon later on. You are making the right choice for yourself and that's all that matters. Maybe you can come run a marathon in Idaho with me! :)

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  4. i am so sorry. i will be doing the same thing as you-having to take my new injury day by day and not sure if i will be able to complete my 2 races i had planned for october. if so, these will be my first DNS due to injury. it sucks. i hope that this gets better soon-is there anything you can do to treat it??

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  5. Sorry that your knee is being dumb but your time will come and you'll run the marathon when the time is right. I had to pull the plug on three races last year and it blew. Rest up and ice up friend!

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  6. I pulled out of the Twin Cities Marathon this fall. I know I'm not ready to race and I wouldn't be in "peak condition" to hit the starting line in October. I opted for a 10-mile entry instead (still tentative) and focusing on healthy eating and living instead of running the marathon just for the sake of running it. It's a hard decision (I had anxiety for weeks leading up to it) - but I made the best decision for me, and it sounds like YOU made the best decision for you, too. Sending healthy and healing thoughts for your knee! :)

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  7. I sure have had to make a tough race decision...I was training for a half Sept 23rd this year...unfortunately I fractured my pelvis in May and will not be able to run the half at all...I feel for you, truly I do...hope you heal quickly, is there anything they can do for this type of injury (sorry if you said in the post)..blessings!

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  8. no decision as tough as this one yet....this cannot be easy looks like the right thing to do right now..I am sorry you are having to deal with this

    m

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  9. Oh bummer... yes, the first time I trained for a marathon I pulled out also due to a knee injury. :( So frustrating. But as you said, your main focus is the 50 and it's awesome you have that goal to focus on. Hope you're feeling better soon!

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  10. Ohhh nooo. I'm sooo sorry to hear this. Making this decision must have been so hard but I'm sure you're making the right choice. Thinking healing thoughts about your knee!

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  11. oh no, so sorry you're going through this! i really thing you're doing what's right, but i know that doesn't make it suck any less,

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  12. Oh no that sucks, I hope you feel better very soon. Sending you tons of healing thoughts!!!

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  13. oh such a bummer! UGH! I am facing a tough decision now and pulling the plug on a half marathon in Denver and one in my backyard. So HARD. I feel your pain. Hugs

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