Run 30, 2008

Well, thirty runs this year doesn’t seem like much. But I guess it is when I think it’s only mid-April. I went to the doctor today to get my ankles x-rayed because they were and are very sore when flexed in certain ways. This injury began in the second week of my bout with that nasty flu. I am not sure if I injured it sparring in karate or running on the trails, or what. Or maybe it is lingering arthritic type pain from the flu. I know I had a sore loose-feeling tooth as part of my flu symptoms, and it is fine now and feels rock solid.

Anyway I am behind in my marathon training. I don’t know if it is good or bad timing that this flu hit me right at the beginning of my marathon training. But I was getting really worried about it and this ankle problem wasn’t helping. So before I resumed my training I decided to go to the doctor to have him rule out a possible stress fracture. Fortunately, there was no evidence of any trauma, hence my run today. He suggested I take it easy for a couple of weeks and if it persists he would do a bone scan.

Anyway, I thought I would run a slow easy run today to try to get back into the swing of things. I was scheduled for a 7 km run at a 7:30 pace but I figured it would be better to do it a minute slower (8:30) or so and see how it went. I was actually a bit scared and more than a little worried about my ankle. But I started out anyway and felt not too good for the first km. But as I gradually warmed up, I began to feel better and better. I was still always nursing that ankle of course, making sure I did not twist it, and I tried to keep it in a straight line in the most efficient way I could.

And now, after my run it is still sore, but I managed not to injure it more. On top of that, I ran the 7 km in 50:28 for a 7:13 pace!

Do I have to say I am happy about that? Tomorrow we are going to the Bushido Open Karate Tournament in Sylvan Lake, and Sunday is my first long run of my marathon training. Better late than never. I guess we will have to wait another week for our orange belts.

PS: I forgot to mention that my depression at having missed two weeks of running was instantly relieved when I suddenly realized that this is just like tapering anyway so it’s no big deal to have missed some runs. After all a 3 week taper before a marathon is standard these days, isn’t it?

About Administrator

55 year old human from the planet Earth. Trying not to panic.
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One Response to Run 30, 2008

  1. Um YEAH. You’ve been “taper training”. Got it ;-)

    Well now that you’ve got THAT down, and the flu out of the way, and an injury-related Dr.’s visit under your belt, you’re way ahead of most 1st time marathoners right there!

    Now all you gotta do is run! :D

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