Marathon Training Thread

[ERCougar]

You got it, brother. My experience is that this site is actually more common than at Gerdy's Tubercle (One of the more fun anatomical terms to say).

It is a friction problem. Regardless of the cause (I suspect it was the slight mechanics change on the treadmill, based on the description), the treatment is the same. You gotta rest it, stretch it, and get the inflammation down. Some people believe it is more of a bursitis-type of problem. I tend to consider it as more of a tendon problem, and treat it as such.

Lots of foam rolling, gentle ITB stretching, and cross friction massage. If you've never done a friction massage, look it up - it can be a really effective technique for speeding up the recovery of muscle and tendon injuries. Like the foam roller, it is really painful the first few times that you do it (if you do it right), but it improves dramatically within 2 weeks or so. I would find a good doc (I said a GOOD one!) in the area that can get you started on a good AI med. One of the orthos I know here tends to use Meloxicam a lot for this. If that doesn't work, you can always try the old "give yourself a cortisone injection mid-race" technique that worked out well for you in StG.

Side-lying hip abduction leg lifts and standing hip hiking exercises would also be helpful to start for strengthening the glut medius.

Like nikuman said, getting to the starting line is a very good possibility. But its not a given, as ITB can be a deal-breaker if it is not well controlled beforehand. I agree with whoever said that you have plenty miles in you to finish and there is a good chance that you can fix this thing quickly and still have a really good race.

hey...thanks for this.
more questions for you, but I'll text them.

[Solon]

hey...thanks for this.
more questions for you, but I'll text them.

So sorry to hear this. I know how hard you've worked.

In 2004 when I ran Ogden, I suffered a stress fracture about 2 weeks before the race. I stayed off it for the two weeks and then took some really strong painkillers for the run. Not a good long-term strategy, but it got the job done for a single day's run.

[Joe Public]

This sucks pretty bad.

Sounds like it. Sorry to hear that, man. Here's hoping for a speedy recovery.

[lambdacoug]

Any CUFfers in the Boston Marathon? Two explosions at the finish line. Here's hoping everyone is safe.

[ERCougar]

15 today!
I've been beating the crap out of my IT band with a roller (my kids conveniently lost mine, so thanks, Solon!) I did some water jogging on saturday. I had a weird flareup Sunday night at work, where it was hurting just walking, so I took off Monday. Felt great since, so I tried long today on the treadmill and made it! I took walk breaks every mile to massage my leg and I felt episodes of tightness, but was able to make it go away each time. It was slow--at least a minute a mile slower to keep my heart rate down. This worries me a little that I've lost some fitness, but at least I think I'll be able to finish. I think I'll run every other day from here on out, cycling on the off days, try a 20 next week and I have the trail relay next weekend, then taper.
Thanks for the words of encouragement, everyone, and to bluegoose for the free PT help.

[Moliere]

Hope it continues to get better

[Eddie]

Glad to hear you're feeling better, ER.

I'd been adding a little mileage, but nothing spectacular - a long run of just over 6 miles Saturday. I was looking at continuing to add, but felt soreness and tightness this morning so I cut this morning's run a little short. After cooling down, my calf is actually more sore than it was when I was running. I'm not overly optimistic.

The ONLY good thing is that normally I feel a very sharp pain suddenly when this happens. This time it was slow and gradual. But I fear it is the same injury coming back in a different way. I suppose I'll stay off it until Monday and then see how it feels when I get out again.

Bad news is race day keeps approaching. It's a run it or lose it race - no postponing the registration or even passing it along to someone else. I'm having evil thoughts in the back of my head signaling that this may prove to be the end of my running career, and it kind of pisses me off.

[ERCougar]

Glad to hear you're feeling better, ER.

I'd been adding a little mileage, but nothing spectacular - a long run of just over 6 miles Saturday. I was looking at continuing to add, but felt soreness and tightness this morning so I cut this morning's run a little short. After cooling down, my calf is actually more sore than it was when I was running. I'm not overly optimistic.

The ONLY good thing is that normally I feel a very sharp pain suddenly when this happens. This time it was slow and gradual. But I fear it is the same injury coming back in a different way. I suppose I'll stay off it until Monday and then see how it feels when I get out again.

Bad news is race day keeps approaching. It's a run it or lose it race - no postponing the registration or even passing it along to someone else. I'm having evil thoughts in the back of my head signaling that this may prove to be the end of my running career, and it kind of pisses me off.

man, that sucks. I'm so sorry--i can empathize.

depending on how this goes, I'm thinking I'm done with marathons. I'm pretty convinced that they're just not good for most of us.

[Eddie]

man, that sucks. I'm so sorry--i can empathize.

depending on how this goes, I'm thinking I'm done with marathons. I'm pretty convinced that they're just not good for most of us.

Sad to say that I told my wife this same thing just this morning. I've run 3. This was to be my 4th. Every year I've had a calf pull or strain - same muscle, same leg. EVERY YEAR. So frustrating.

[MarkGrace]

I've been mostly in the Wave Rider 16, which I love, Love, LOVE for long distance hauls (I'll be running the Marathon part of the Disney in them). I was using some Saucony Ride 5s but hated them (I liked the original Ride and ran my second marathon in them, but have had nothing but problems with the 5s). Of the 220 miles I did in the challenge, I did probably 2/3rds in my Wave Riders.

I just bought a pair of Precision 13s (I can't find them on the website) which are what I'll use in the half marathon portion and for the Ironman in May.

When I'm truly racing I will use the Kinvara 3s for up to a marathon (that's what I ran St. George in) but with the increased mileage I felt I needed a bit more cushioning and support. I have not been sorry about that choice.

EDIT: The difference between what I'm running in and what MG is running in is that some of the overlays were removed and it's a bit lighter (I think my size 12s come in at about 10 oz, but I could be wrong. Anyway, I used to think that Mizuno was kinda gimmicky with their wave deal but I'm a big fan now.

Just got the Wave Rider 16 and love 'em.

[Sea Chicken]

Hey guys. It's been a while since I logged on here, but I thought you might enjoy this one. I had a memorable run yesterday ....

(below is from my running blog)

Glenwood Springs, CO 9am

I went out for a nice little run along the river, not pushing myself too hard and not going too far. Planning on a long run tomorrow.

All went well until I got off of the greenbelt path by the funeral home. You have to go about 10 feet out of your way to go around the guardrail, or you can jump over it. I should have gone around. I think my foot hooked the rail because I went down on the sidewalk straight on my face. I got right up, knowing it was bad. A guy in a truck pulled over and gave me some paper towels and drove me to the hotel.

At the hotel I looked in the mirror and saw that my face was indeed a mess. I called my wife and she called the insurance company to find out where I should go for medical attention. I texted her a picture of my face -- probably a bad idea.

So I went to the clinic and they got me right in to see a doctor (that happens when you are bleeding). The doctor water-boarded me, cleaned up the wounds and gave me two or three stitches. I still look (and feel) like hell. My teeth are ok, my nose isn't broken and I think my head is fine, but my leg has a nasty bruise on it and my shin got ripped up.

Tomorrow's long run is cancelled. Now I'm tapering.

Oh, and if you want to see something gross, click here and here

[bluegoose]

Good to hear from you sea chicken. Sorry about your biff. That is a pretty sweet gash on your nose.

[Eddie]

Good to hear from you sea chicken. Sorry about your biff. That is a pretty sweet gash on your nose.

Yeah - crazy! I've slide on an icy corner now and then or taken a short tumble - but I've never had any injuries like that to show for it.

So - I've pretty much resigned myself to pulling out of Ogden. Still have soreness and tightness in my calf - and I'm pretty sure I'd be limping within the first 10 miles or so. So I'm going to see about meeting with a physical therapist and see if I can't get better before hitting Spudman in July.

Now I just have to decide if it is worth driving to Ogden to pick up my $80 shirt. I think it would just be depressing.

[ERCougar]

Yeah - crazy! I've slide on an icy corner now and then or taken a short tumble - but I've never had any injuries like that to show for it.

So - I've pretty much resigned myself to pulling out of Ogden. Still have soreness and tightness in my calf - and I'm pretty sure I'd be limping within the first 10 miles or so. So I'm going to see about meeting with a physical therapist and see if I can't get better before hitting Spudman in July.

Now I just have to decide if it is worth driving to Ogden to pick up my $80 shirt. I think it would just be depressing.

Aww, man, I'm sorry. I was wondering how you were going to get back on track. I have no idea what to expect on my race (ITB was giving me problems yesterday again--seems to depend on the day), but I imagine it won't be pretty.

Get the shirt though--I love my Ogden shirt from last year and I got some great deals at their expo last year.
You gonna try again next year?

And Sea Chicken! That's nasty.
Come back and post though. We need your coaching.

[Eddie]

Aww, man, I'm sorry. I was wondering how you were going to get back on track. I have no idea what to expect on my race (ITB was giving me problems yesterday again--seems to depend on the day), but I imagine it won't be pretty.

Get the shirt though--I love my Ogden shirt from last year and I got some great deals at their expo last year.
You gonna try again next year?

And Sea Chicken! That's nasty.
Come back and post though. We need your coaching.

I may make it next year. I've run the past three and keep telling myself that I should try another race and drop Ogden, but they are so well organized and early enough in the year that it gives me a good excuse to keep running through the winter. I still want to hit St. George at some point - but decided not to put in this year until I know I'm going to be able to get back into running.

I had some illness and injury the first time I ran Ogden, but ran it anyway after not having any meaningful miles the last 8 weeks or so leading up to the race. But I figured that the worst that could happen is that I'd have to be picked up, and I'd at least had a 16 mile run before getting injured and then sick. But this year...I haven't crossed 6 miles in months. Knowing how hard it was that time with limited running, I just can't imagine what this one would be like with even less. That was one rough race.

The more I think about it, I'm pretty sure I'll put in for next year again.