My first marathon is a week away.  I have been anxiously awaiting Sunday’s forecast to show up in the 10 day weather forecast for quite some time now.  I was going to go into the whole “you can’t cram for a marathon” shpeal.  I was even going to work in A.I. on training, or “practice.”

Since I am blogging, and not tweeting, it won’t suffice to say that things have taken a turn.  So instead of tapering, carb-loading, and other fun stuff, I am talking about injuries- and perhaps one of the classic blunders of a first-timer marathoner:  over-training injuries.

First up was ITB Syndrome with my right knee/leg.   My ITB issues initially appeared up during my first 20 miler in January.  To be clear: I first suffered ITB Syndrome on my longest run to date, almost at the beginning of my targeted marathon training.  Eventually I took a week off and made my first appointment with a Physical Therapist.  Although I remain skeptical of my first PT’s advice (ditch my minimalist shoes, get orthotics, stop running), I think the in-appointment treatments of muscle stimulation worked well.  Now about two months removed from my initial ITB problems with my right knee I feel somewhat confidant that issue is behind me.

Fast forward to early March.  Taper time- when my mileage is supposed to come down.  On the return leg of a 13 mile long run, my left knee decided to start acting up.  For better or worse this injury seemed different than the first, on my right knee.  I ran through it.  (Mistake.)  I actually finished that run at my pace time.  I ran a few more key runs, or shorter distance but high intensity runs.  I guess just hoping it would miraculously go away.  No such luck.

Finally things seemed to reach a tipping point with this morning’s long run.  My early 9:00 minute miles turned into molasses-feeling 11:00 minute miles.  I couldn’t ignore my knee, or run through it.  For the second half of my 10 mile run I was facing a giant mental roadblock:  will I even be able to run the race next Sunday?  Is it a horrible idea to run on a bum knee?  (Probably).

I have a week to sort things out; hopefully tomorrow I can get a referral to a running-oriented physical therapist, and go from there.  My spirits are not completely in the ditch, but I am bummed.  For now I am still planning to show up at the race and see how long I can gut it out, and then walk the remainder.