Run Fatboy Run

nikkiditsch — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 00:38:23 +0000

2 weeks from today it will be all over. 20 weeks of marathon specific training has gone by quickly, and I find myself wishing I had another 5 instead of 2. It’s the start of the taper, and as usual I don’t feel great. I’ve had some pretty tough runs over the last few weeks which have done nothing to boost my confidence. I’m trying to take this week in stride (no pun intended) and write it off as my body’s reaction to the taper, but two things are scaring me a bit. I’m not trying to complain here, but instead, voice my honest thoughts and concerns about my training and the upcoming race. I think maybe if I talk about it the bad thoughts won’t linger in my brain gnawing at my vulnerable confidence but, be out in the open and defenseless against my rationalizations I am about to give.

Issue #1: My crazy high heart rate

I don’t know where this came from, but during my training runs my average heart rates have been about 10 bmp higher than usual for corresponding runs. Not only is it around 10bpm higher, but it has been about 10 degrees cooler than the previous weeks, also. Yikes! I actually had a :45 min run at MP on Wed, that I could only manage a pace 30 seconds slower than MP! My HR and RPE were both ridiculously high. It was pretty devastating. Poor Gary got the brunt of my emotions after that workout.

Rationalization for Issue #1

I’m tired! I just finished 17 weeks (18 today) of really tough training, the last week being the toughest. My body is telling me that it is time to relax, take it easy, sleep more. I think this also might be a sign of being overtrained especially considering I raced a half marathon on the 13th. Because of my training plan, there was no real recovery scheduled after the race. Over the weekend I have been starting to feel more rested, but I am really going to start listening to my body and resting a lot this week and next. I think I will even go to bed in the next hour. I don’t think of this as a bad sign of my fitness because I PR’d at the half, and I have been running really well throughout this training program. I feel like I’m in the best shape of my running life. Just a little bit of fatigue. Nothing a 2 week taper can’t take care of.

Issue #2: My Hip

Owie! After 29 miles in 2 days last weekend my hip started to really bother me. I took Monday and Tuesday off of running, but returned Wednesday and Thursday to some pretty significant pain. Pain a few weeks out from a race is pretty scary. The pain is primarily in my TFL, and also at the insertion of my Piriformis. I can target both pretty well on the foam roller. I got a massage on Thursday from my good friend Jill, which helped a ton, and I plan to see her again this week. The pain is pretty severe, and movement is extremely stiff in the morning and after I run.

Rationalization for Issue #1

Here’s the bright side…I’m certain it is muscular. Why is that good? Muscle can be quick healing. It has good blood supply which helps in healing, and is quick to respond to treatment. The pain has also not moved into my IT band or down to my knee yet either. I also know that aches and pains are typical during a taper, and I think patience and proper treatment should do the trick. Obviously injury-free at the moment would be ideal, but I’m going to take this as another signal to relax. I’m normally really antsy during a taper, and think I can do more than I should, so maybe this is a way to force me to do some more couch sitting, and catch up on some good sleep.

I’ll post next week with an update on the taper progress.

On a side note, Gary and I just watched Run Fatboy Run and it was hilarious! Go watch it right now.

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nikkiditsch — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 13:59:19 +0000

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Run Fatboy Run

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