So the MRI confirmed it. M has a tibial stress fracture and a small meniscal tear.
I swear, I couldn’t be more upset if it were my own leg. 😦
So this first-time marathoner will officially be making her maiden voyage solo. Guess I’d better be making me one heck of a playlist!!!
My 20-miler was today. It went pretty well. My ONLY goal for today was to get in the distance and to keep the knee as happy as possible. I succeeded at both. The time was not impressive, but considering all the walking (mostly for the knee’s sake–see goal #2) and the time that I spent coming back by the house for a pit stop and to change shoes (breaking in a new pair), I can’t be too upset about the finish time. Yes, I include all my stops in my time. Once I hit that start button with my first step, I don’t hit stop until I’m done.
I did find myself feeling sluggish though. When I got up into the double digits I was like, “UGH! Why are my legs so DEAD??? I’ve run these distances before!!!”
Then it hit me.
Until this week, the most I had run in a 7-day period was 30 miles. It was at about that mark that my knee started acting up and I started cutting out midweek runs. At the end of 20 miles today, that put my 7-day total for this week at 46 miles. No freakin’ wonder my legs were like lead! It was because I messed with my schedule last weekend and ran on Sunday instead of Saturday. Sunday’s 15, Wednesday’s 5, Thursday’s 6, and Saturday’s 20 added up without me realizing it. I was just so excited to be able to run at at manageable pain level again that I just RAN and didn’t do the math! Oh well, it all worked out.
All aboard the taper train!!!
herbie on the run 
Oh. Wow.
You're going to do great. Relax and trust your training. I will share a secret to running alone on the marathon course – Be Your Own Cheerleader. Seriously. If you feel “low” shout at the fans that you Need More Cowbell. Or point at the cheersquads (there's always those at RNR races) and give them a thumbs up. Wear a LOUD identifiable outfit… or, get a pair of tall socks.
Finally – back to that trust the training thing: You are tired because you spent 16-20 weeks tearing your legs down. The next few weeks are building them up. Your legs on race day will be the strongest they have ever been. Believe that, it is 100% true.
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That sucks about M!
Kudos to banging out that 20 miler, and keeping the knee in check! Get all thoughts of time out of your head, enjoy the taper, sounds like you timed it perfectly!
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Good job on finishing that solo 20-miler. And good job for watching that knee. 🙂
Good luck for your first full marathon.
Taper train is chuggin' along.
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Bummer on the injured running buddy 😦
But I'm glad to hear that your knee is behaving! Welcome to the taper – your body deserves it!
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Great job on the 20 – so sorry about the running buddy. 😦
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this happened to me before remember? And that's why I got injured. =(
Hang in there, Pam! Hey email me if you wanna meet up. I don't mind running beside you either if you want. I'm doing a 5:1 Galloway =)
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Hi Pam,
First of all you are a freaking rock star! Nice job on finishing all of those long hard runs:)
Bring on the taper!! I actually enjoyed mine:) Just remember that this is your first marathon….relax and don't put so much pressure on yourself. I know that you are going to be fine. Take these last two weeks to really take a break, regroup and enoy:)
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Hi Pam! I meant I made a mistake with my calculating my mileage and looking at the wrong date for my long run that's why I got injured =)
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Sounds like a successful run to me! Well done! Sorry to hear about your friend…at least this way you won't waste any breath trying to talk?
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great race. congrats!!!
“Running is the greatest metaphor for life, because you get out of it what you put into it.”
-Oprah Winfrey ~spyder ski
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Pam, I am so sorry that your training buddy is out… I can only imagine how devestating that is! I will be praying for your knee. We only have 12 days left at this point! Hope things are looking up!
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So glad to hear about your sucessful 20, but bummed about your friend…BOO!
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hey pam, I sent you another email. I'm changing corrals. please let me know what you put down for your finish time. I'm way at the back (corral 22). Put in the wrong finish time.
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Aw, I'm sorry about your friend. That stinks. Hopefully she will be able to cheer you on from the sidelines! You are getting SO close!! 🙂
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You'll be just fine! Actually, way better than fine. You'll be amazing. 🙂 I feel so bad for your running buddy, though! That's awful. I've had a stress fracture there and in my toe.
I loved your comment on my blog. I never shop either!! This was my first time stepping foot in a mall in almost a year. I love thrift stores (call me cheap, whatever) but I look at it as recycling. I think thrift stores are god's gift to green women. I bought some BRAND new fall dresses (because yes, it is like fall weather here in San Diego) and the boots. I feel like I spoiled myself.
Thinking of you and your big day coming up real soon!!!
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You'll be just fine! Actually, way better than fine. You'll be amazing. 🙂 I feel so bad for your running buddy, though! That's awful. I've had a stress fracture there and in my toe.
I loved your comment on my blog. I never shop either!! This was my first time stepping foot in a mall in almost a year. I love thrift stores (call me cheap, whatever) but I look at it as recycling. I think thrift stores are god's gift to green women. I bought some BRAND new fall dresses (because yes, it is like fall weather here in San Diego) and the boots. I feel like I spoiled myself.
Thinking of you and your big day coming up real soon!!!
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It'll be interesting to see if you get the taper brain. I think we all do. Don't let yourself get sucked into feeling like you're not trained enough. 20 miles is more than enough to run a marathon!!
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