On Nov 6th I closed out another season of long distance running with the Hamilton Marathon.
This year I completed 10 ultras (including 92.7 miles in a 24hr event) and 7 marathons (including Hamilton). I also managed 40k in another 6hr event (where I was coming down with a bug) and the EndurRun (7 races, 160k, in 8 days, including one of the marathons). With the focus on distance, I neglected speed work.
The bug I came down with affected me during the 6hr event, not so much during the EndurRun, but completely knocked me out of a relay event and off my feet for two weeks.
After recovery it was a two week build-up to the 24hr event. During this event I ended up with some tendon strain in the left foot. The first week after I didn’t allow enough recovery time for the foot and strained it again during the second half of a double. I then gave it most of a week off and ran the 50k at Run for the Toad. I ran this at an easy pace helping a friend complete her first 50k. Foot felt fine, so I decided to carry on with my October race schedule. I had a couple of twinges over the next two weeks but the foot held up okay during the Vulture Bait 50k. During ScotiaBank I had a real tough day, with a tight calf starting at 27k. I met up with another runner from my group around 35k who was really struggling, so I cut my pace and helped her through to the finish. However the foot acted up again at about 38k.
I took most of the week off and then tried the foot out during the Borden Half Marathon. The foot lasted for about 15k.
Another week of rest and I tried the foot out again with 46k at the Horror Hill 6hr Trail Race. On the uphill, 8k in, the foot expressed it’s displeasure with me.
Just a couple of easy runs to stretch out the legs and I headed into the Hamilton Marathon.
This is my PB course, but with the foot, I wasn’t expecting as much.
I found out on Friday night, I had been registered as Christina. So I made sure I was at the race site early to make sure my registration was corrected. I picked up my kit to find Christina was indeed a 54yr old male. I then headed to the problem desk to put the fix in. Since the one option I was given wouldn’t guarantee an AG award, I just went with changing my name.
A few friends had a laugh at this and were calling me Chrissy
Caught the first bus to the start, got a small prize for this being my 5th Hamilton Marathon, on the way.
Plenty of time at the school, waiting for the start, to use the facilities, get ready and meet up with a number of friends. Although I did miss meeting one friend from Montreal.
A little cool at the start, but I went with my shorts, Running Free short sleeve shirt, throw away gloves and arm warmers.
A slight delay and about 8:25 the marathoners head off. Right off the bat, I know it won’t be a great day. Still not my worst day either.
The foot managed to hold out until 15k.
Had to make a pit stop at around 17k.
In the first half I got dropped by the 4hr pace group, shortly after by the basketball bouncing guy and the guy in hockey gear.
I did manage to pick up some time on the big downhill.
On the final stretch along the waterfront I did manage to catch and pass both basketball and hockey guy.
In to the final stretch and I swear as I crossed the line Nick called me Chrissy (more likely Chris B). But it made me wonder about my registration.
After I spent some time with the Running Free group and some other friends and headed home.
Finish time 4:19. 42 minutes slower than last year.
Took some time for some recovery (did run easy with some friends at the Boxing Day 10 miler, with no problems with the foot).
Tonight I’m doing a Resolution 5k with my daughter to end out the year.
Now, on to some serious thinking about next year – maybe less races and more speed work?
Hey Chris, I am feeling for you. This was my most injury riddled year yet, and I think I have noticed a very similar pattern with yours: Suffer through an injury till you can’t suffer it any longer (or it blows up spectacularly), take a week or so off, then go at it again (same training distance and paces) AS IF YOU WERE NEVER INJURED. This only leads to another injury, which gets repeated ad infinitum.
If you have not yet done so, you should consider taking a good block of time off (3 or 4 weeks) and then start rebuilding from scratch using the age old formula of no more than 10% increase in distance each week.
The other thing I would suggest is to significantly cut weekly mileage (about 50 to 70%) when returning from an injury and then rebuilding back up by 10% per week, all speed, hills and strength work shelved until the rebuild is complete. The nature of the injury, severity and time off should dictate just how much mileage to cut back.
The other thing I have done poorly is taking only a week of recovery when clearly more was necessary. This leads to a chronic injury recurrance which is never a good thing, something my RMT was always on me about.
I have long thought I was indestructible. Clearly not! Every day we can run is such a blessing. We need to do more to protect this privilege, by treating our bodies better.
Turns out Endurrun Marathon was my last race of the year. Many hard lessons learned between then and now.