Weekly Recap: The Taper

Last double digit run before the Chicago Marathon done!  On Saturday I started my taper and only ran 12 miles.

The positives:  My legs felt fresh and light.  Just how they should feel at this point.  I also felt pretty good cardiovascular wise.  The weather was perfect for a run and the trail was packed with happy runners.

The negatives:  My foot, my foot, my foot.  I thought since I haven't been running as many miles my foot would start to feel better.  Not at all.  It is exactly the same.  My running form is so awkward the first mile because I am trying to figure how to run and not make it hurt.  As time goes on, my foot pain dulls or maybe I am able to adjust my running form and not land on that part of my foot as much.

My overall pace for 12 miles was 8:36 min/mile.  My first mile was 9 min/mile.  I basically ran each mile a little faster and my last mile was 8:14 min/mile.  I wasn't trying to do a progression run but that is what happened.  At first I was feeling really good about this run.  Then I did something I shouldn't have done. I looked back through my garmin at my old runs.  Back in February, I ran 12 miles at an average pace of 8:12 min/mile.  Also most of my short runs 5-7 miles were averaging in the 7:50 range.  I have done all this running and am slower.  And now my garmin won't work.  I guess I did something going through all the old data?  It is just a blank screen.

Weekly Recap:

Monday:  3 miles

Tuesday:  5 miles

Wednesday:  Rest

Thursday:  6 miles

Friday:  Swim 1000 meters

Saturday:  12 miles

When I look at my weekly recap it doesn't seem like enough.  But I need to trust my taper plan.  Only 2 more weeks!                                                      

The Taper

It is less than 3 weeks until the Chicago Marathon, so that means it is time to taper.  Most marathon training plans call for a three week taper.  They say it is important to have your legs feeling fresh for the start of the marathon.

I sort of have to laugh about my taper.  Basically I have been tapering for the past 6 weeks.  So my mileage during the week is not really going down.  The only thing that will be a taper will be my long run.  This weekend I only have to run 12 miles.  

I don't really love taper time.  Because I love to run.  The more miles I run, the better I feel (well usually when I am not hurt).

Today I ran 6 miles with Alyssa.  The first 2 miles I felt great, including my foot.  It definitely showed in my pace because the second mile came in at 8:14min/mile.  But then this very annoying foot pain came back.  Ugh...  Overall our average pace was 8:30min/mile.  I just need to accept that this is what I am capable of now.  I want to be able to run 10 miles at a 8min pace and have it feel easy, but I am not there now.  Someday I will get there again.  

Running in the Rain

I love running in the rain!  I had a great time running today as it poured down rain.  I loved splashing in the puddles and listening to the raindrops.

My work out did not go as planned by any means though.  I know my little foot injury needs some TLC so I had planned to just run 2 miles on the gym treadmill and then go swimming.  But Nathan has croup.  His stridor is so bad you can hear him from several rooms away.  I knew if I dropped him off at the gym daycare they would say... No Way crazy lady are we watching your son.

I knew Ryan would be home for lunch so after I put Nathan down for a nap, I went for a quick run.  My legs and foot were feeling pretty good this morning so I was hopeful for a good run.  Not so much.  My legs are still heavy from the 20 miler and my foot is not better.  You would think after 5 weeks (yes I have been dealing with this injury for 5 weeks:(, my foot would start to improve.  Bone injuries take a long time to heal I guess.  Anyway I went for a horribly slow 3 mile run.

Good thing it started to pour though.  Because I stopped my garmin and tried to shield it from the rain and just enjoyed how wonderful the rain felt.

Running in the Rain

Weekly Recap: Confidence Booster

On Saturday, I started my run thinking I was going to be a good patient and only run 12 miles and then do 8 miles on the elliptical.  But then when it was time for me to break off from the group, I couldn't do it.  I had a choice to finish off the run by my myself and then do 8 boring miles on the elliptical.  Or I could actually do a 20 mile run with a fun group of runners on the beautiful Monon Trail in the most perfect weather.  So of course I choose running.  My foot was not hurting worse than the first step I took so I thought I was ok...

I have to say the first 15 miles flew by.  It was really nice running with a big group.  So many conversations going on.  At mile 17-18, I was done though.  My endurance isn't quite where it should be.  One of the girls in the group needed to get back quicker so she picked up the pace at the end.  I was not feeling great but just wanted to be done so bad.  So I stuck with her.  I ran mile 19 in 8:35 and mile 20 in 8:20.  I have been having a hard time hitting 8:20 in a 5 mile run since my injury and today I ran one after running 19 miles.  Where have these legs been?

What a confidence booster to complete a 20 mile run!  And I definitely ran negative splits.  The saying goes... If you can run 20 miles then you can run 26.2 miles.  Unfortunately I know this isn't true though.  Well for a lot of people it is, but not for me.  I did two 20 mile runs last year before my first marathon.  Although I did make it the 26.2 miles, there was more walking then running the last few miles.  Even so, I am stilling feeling great that I made it.  Maybe I can do this thing?!

Today I am feeling a little more sore than I would like.  Still not too bad though.  My foot feels the same.  So I take that as good news.

Weekly Recap:

Monday:  Swim 1000 meters
Tuesday:  5 mile run
Wednesday:  Rest
Thursday:  5 mile run, 4.5 Elliptical
Friday:  2 mile run, 3 mile elliptical
Saturday:  20 miles
Sunday:  Rest

Let the taper begin...and the healing too.

Running on a Stress Fracture

Everything about my title seems wrong.  I am glad I was given the green light to run though.

Today was my first run since I found out I have a stress fracture.  It didn't feel good.

I am having second thoughts about running the Chicago Marathon.  Is this really the smart thing to do?
I ran 5 miles today at a 8:49 pace and it was hard.  I think why it feels so hard is because I am not running efficiently.  The reason, I think, is because I am trying to compensate for my foot pain.

I then went to the gym and did 4.5 miles on the elliptical.  I wanted to do 5 but could not make it.  It is so boring and I was exhausted.  This weekend I am supposed to double this work out (10 running miles, 10 miles on the elliptical).

I am torn on what to do.  I really want to run the Chicago Marathon.  But I really really want to be able to run MANY more marathons in the future.

I guess I will just keep pushing forward (carefully), listen to my body, and see what happens.

Finally A Diagnosis: But not a good one

The MRI results came in...

Stress fracture in my foot...BOOOOOOOOOO!

Ok now to get technical:
Official Results:
Moderate osseous edema within the right second metatarsal head and neck particularly in the planar aspect with a small focus of subarticular low signal.  The findings are most consistent with subarticular stress fracture (aka head of metatarsal bone) or osteochondrosis.


So there are some very interesting things about my MRI.  First most people who have a stress fracture in the metatarsal bone have it in the neck of the bone.  Mine is at the head.  My ortho doctor has never seen this type before.  And he is the best doctor in the area for this type of injury.  In fact this diagnosis did not even exist until 15 years ago.  This is a very RARE injury.

The most surprising news:  He still said there may be a chance I could run the Chicago Marathon.  What? What? What?
Any doctor or any athlete who has ever had a stress fracture knows the treatment.  NO running for 4-8 weeks.

This is a highly respected orthopedic doctor and I know he knows his stuff.  So hey I'll take this plan.
He did say that there is a very low risk of a complete fracture in this type of stress fracture, so I assume that is why he is letting me run some.

There are of course some pretty strict guidelines I need to follow:
1.  Not much running until the marathon.  For example I was supposed to run 20 miles this weekend.  Instead I can only run 10 miles and then do 10 miles on the elliptical.
2.  I need to stop if the pain increases.  Um... I told him if I start a run, I never stop sooner than planned.  Remember I ran 19 miles on this stress fracture.  But I will listen, I must.
3.  I have to wear a walking boot during the day.
4.  I need to get fitted for custom orthotics.  This will help cushion my foot and hopefully help take off the pressure on the area.
5.  After the marathon, I need to take a month off from running.  SAD:(  For the past 2 years, I have never taken more than a few days off in a row.

So here we go again.  I still don't know for sure if I will be able to complete the marathon.  What if the pain becomes too much?
I will also be so under trained for the marathon.  I wanted to do three 20 mile runs in preparation for this marathon.  Instead I will have done 0.  Not very promising at all.  Will I have the endurance to make it?

Have you ever had a stress fracture?  I would love to hear how your recovery went.  Also do any of my medical friends have any thoughts on this diagnosis or treatment plan?

What a bummer!

Weekly Recap: One more month?

The Chicago Marathon is now less than a month away.  I still don't know if I will be able to run it or not.  I get my MRI tomorrow so I hope after that I will have a better idea of what is going on with my foot.  Hopefully I will also have a plan on how to get rid of this pain.

If I do run it, I will not be as prepared as I would like.  That is one thing that I hate- Not being prepared.  I may not be the most athletic person but I am good at making a plan and following through on it.  I guess you could say I am determined.  But this injury has made it impossible for me to follow my plan.  I had to take almost 2 weeks off from running (during 2 intense training weeks).  And once I came back my training has been it or miss for the last 2 weeks.

The one word I would use to describe my long run today was FRUSTRATING.

I was frustrated that my foot was hurting so bad.
I was frustrated that I can't go as fast as I used to.
I was frustrated that my taper long run felt so hard.
I was frustrated that I didn't get a MRI 3 weeks ago when this pain started.
I was frustrated that my garmin wasn't working.
I was also frustrated that my Notre Dame is 0-2, really?

I know my complaints are silly.  And I do realize one thing:
I ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING IN THIS WORLD I COULD EVER WANT.

I will try very hard to remember this tomorrow...no matter what the MRI results are.

Weekly Recap:

Monday:  Elliptical 4 miles, Swim 1000 meters
Tuesday:  Rest
Wednesday:  Rest
Thursday: 6 miles
Friday: 7 miles
Saturday: Rest
Sunday: 14 miles

Pictures from this weekend:

Kaitlyn walking with her gymnastic's team in the Zionsville Parade.

Kaitlyn doing a cartwheel.

Kaitlyn and her best friend Alexis

Jackson waving at the parade.  He scored 4 goals in his soccer game that was right before the parade.

Nathan in awe over the parade.

I hope everyone has a wonderful week!