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I seem to have hit a brick wall in my marathon training. I got up to 5 miles a couple weeks ago but haven’t been able to top it. I guess part of it is that I went on vacation (although I did run 3 of the 5 days I was out of town, for a total of 8 miles).
I am having two separate issues with my left leg, one of which is likely either a bad chronic shin splint, or possibly a stress fracture. The other issue has something to do with my hamstring… I cannot stretch that leg hardly at all (toe touches are nearly impossible), and when I run there is occasional pain that shoots either up from the back of the knee through the thigh, or down to the toes. I don’t know that running is making it any worse, per se, so I’m just trying to stretch it a little bit when I’m warmed up, enough to keep as limber as I can without making it worse. Oh, also, my leg occasionally feels weak as I’m running, like it’s about to buckle.
The other thing is, I have had insomnia for a few nights, and I don’t have much of an appetite. My stomach constantly feels like it’s full of butterflies. Don’t know what’s going on there.
So, weirdness all around. But like I told a friend, I’m learning to work with the leg pain rather than let it stop me.
I was supposed to have run 6 miles last weekend, and didn’t, and still haven’t managed to this week. The most I’ve done is 4.5. I may take it “easy” and just do my 6 mile this weekend rather than 6.5, and basically fall back by a week. Maybe I just need a break, what with the leg and all.
I’m sure it will pass. But it’s depressing in the meantime. I feel like a failure.
Stress fractures are tough, hard to get over and pretty much an end to training until they do.
Also, remember that it’s entirely possible to complete a marathon with some walking in there. It might help your training to run for a mile, walk for a quarter, repeat. Just an idea.
I understand hitting the wall though, it’s tough to break through. I don’t really have a magic bullet, just try to alter your workouts a little and mostly fight through it. But be careful with that possible fracture. That will only get worse if that’s what it is.
Brett
During track in high school, I got a stress fracture in my left shin bone (or tibia, the medical term, which sounds like the name of another Addams Family daughter) three-quarters of the way through my first time running the usual Tuesday workout of eight miles.
Before an X-ray confirmed the fracture, I did two more days of workouts (nowhere near eight miles); after the X-ray, my doctor, both track coaches, and the school athletic trainers adamantly (though not Adam Ant-ly) banned me from doing anything other than recording team stats on a clipboard for the rest of the track season. VERY BORING.
I could feel the fracture off and on for at least a year, like a squiggly-shaped itchy zone deep inside my leg. VERY ANNOYING.
So, I fervently hope you don’t have a stress fracture — but if you do, I have a clipboard you can use to bang on things in frustration.
I went to the doctor this morning, and she said it probably isn’t a stress fracture, but she had me get Xrays to be sure (although she also said that stress fractures generally don’t show up on Xrays, so I don’t quite understand why she wanted me to have them).
I’m also supposed to cut my training back by half for two weeks to see if it helps. And she’ll let me know about the Xray results when she finds out.
Your leg issues sound like two sides of the same problem and akin something I experienced about 6 months ago. I found that with some rest (reduced mileage) and alot of lower leg stretches things improved.
In particular, I recommend toe points and calf stretches. One that sounds silly but worked well is to draw the alphabet in the air with your toes. You might give it a try. And I agree with Brett on the run/walk.
During training you are going to plateau sometimes – its just a fact. You may go for a few weeks at the same distance and feel like you aren’t making any progress, but eventually you will break thru. Keep going!
Jason
Again, I think I have the answer for you. Dogs with bees in their mouths, and when they bark they shoot bees from their mouths. Get a couple of those babies chasing you, and you will break right through that wall.
bob
Again, Bob, you seem to be the one with these dog/bee connections. Can you, in fact, arrange for my lesson in motivation?
The two leg problems are very likely related. I can’t give you advice on running, because I avoid it if at all possible. I do know a thing or two (or five) about exercising injured, though, and it’s very common for an injury to cause another problem. My guess is that you’re tensing your left leg more than usual when you run, anticipating the pain. Stretching is the best thing to do, probably both before and after. I’ve been having a similar problem with my left hamstring, too, although I haven’t figured out why. It’s probably related to the fact that my left hip, kneee, and ankle like to compete for who’s having the biggest problem on any given day.
Hmm, dogs spitting bees reminds me of something I saw called “How to Kill A Mockingbird” in which flying pirates had guns that shot flaming swords, or something like that.
Bonnie