Training Log: 15 mile run – it was ugly. Good bye marathon.
Posted on November 13th, 2009 in Run Log, Workout Log | 4 Comments »
I decided to do my long run this evening (Friday) instead of doing it tomorrow. It is midnight and I just got back from a long run. I was scheduled to do a long run as part of my marathon training. I wanted to do 20 miles, but that just wasn’t going to happen. I started out ok. I really concentrated on my running technique to protect my knee. I even decided to run without my hydration belt to get rid of the extra weight or any sort of issues with balance. I carefully selected a route that would take me to water fountains. I did pretty well up to around mile 8. At that point my mind wondered a bit and I must have lost focus on my running technique. I got a pain in my knee. However, I didn’t go down. So in order to protect the knee I walked for about half a mile and resumed running, again focusing on protecting my knee. I was running real slow, in fact, I dropped to 13 minute miles. At mile 11 I got that pain again. I walk a bit to rest the knee. When I tried running again, within 100 yards, my knee buckled. I rested at the side of the road and massaged my quads and knee, then tried again. About a quarter mile later I got the sharp pain and down I went. I was at a park so I walked to a bench, sat for a while and massaged again. I then decided to walk for a mile. I started a slow run, now down to 14 minute miles because the pain in my knee was worrying me. While I was running, I was wondering how long my knee would hold up without just breaking past the point of no return. After a slow run for about a mile, I ran/walked for a few miles. During that time my knee buckled once more. I actually ended up calling my wife to pick me up because I was down hard at this point. I looked at my Garmin and it read 15.2 miles. Doing 26.2 miles is not realistic at this point. I have decided to remove the marathon from my bucket list.
I am having mixed feelings about the whole thing. I am angry and depressed for obvious reasons. However, I am also sort of relieved because I made a decision. Not my first choice, but probably the best choice.
I am not sure where I go from here and I don’t really want to think about it right now. My legs are sore and my knee is hurting. I am iced up and I am too beat to think.
Ok, so I am done… stick me with a fork!
Btw, thanks to all of you who have supported me through the training and thank you for your advice. Those are the things that inspire me and motivate me. While I will not be doing the marathon in December, I will continue with some sort of fitness regime.
4 Responses
"…Not my first choice, but probably the best choice."
Very wise Boomer. Us meatheads sometimes need to hurt ourselves in order to realize the right thing to do.
You are making the right decision!
Boomer, I can read the disappointment in your words. Sorry to hear that it won’t work this time. I think its the best decision to rehab the knee and get it healthy again. You join a long list of athletes who’ve had their goals and objectives sidelined by injury.
Not sure why you’re writing off doing a marathon, though. It is a ton of time, energy and devotion to put behind the effort and you have that on your side. You know your body and ability better than me and I respect and admire your decision. I tip my cap to you for sticking it out, plowing along through pain, and pressing onward as far as your knee could take you.
Boomer, I think you are making a wise decision. Try not to be depressed about this. You have made GREAT progress with your training. Your training is honorable. It made me think about this scripture Philippians 4:8 -
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
so try to be positive and think about when your knee gets stronger and how much more you will accomplish by resting and getting your knee back to where it needs to be.
Chuck
Jeff… I have been a meathead much too long.
Steve… There is a corner of my mind that says the same as you about not doing the marathon. One part of me wants to say, "just do it".
Chuck… Thanks for the scripture. As a practicing Christian, I find it inspiring. Yes, I must be positive. While I am not as young as I used to be, there is still a lot of life ahead… I hope!