As a rule, I let things roll.
When I was younger, everything was front and center and super important! These days, I’m a lot more relaxed. Well, sorta?
I guess maybe that falls into play more when I’m training for races.
I’ve run enough marathons that I don’t get too majorly worked up about the extra miles or the taper or even the pre-race rituals. I just do them and enjoy the race.
Makes me sound boring, doesn’t it? Hahaha!!!
Well, let me tell you, my training for the Berlin Marathon has been anything but boring. We are going to review:
In July, I totally changed up my training by switching coaches (which has turned out to be an excellent move!). My new coach trains by HR/ Time. In all my years (almost 5) of running, I have trained by pace/distance. There was a learning curve with this new approach to training but is has been a very good change.
Before I made this coaching switch, I was completely exhausted. First thing my new coach did was work on getting me recovered from being perpetually pooped. Bless him! I’m feeling a lot better on that front.
Next, it was time to buckle down and train for Berlin.
Having long runs that only last 3 hours (or in a week, 3.5 hours) blew me away! I was so used to running 5-7hours a day at peak training that I felt like a slacker. I felt like a kid playing hookie! I felt guilty.
Surely these short/long runs aren’t going to get me all the way around the Berlin course?
I was assured they would.
“Trust your training…Trust your training…Trust your training…Trust your training…Trust your training…It’s my new mantra.
I’m having trouble convincing myself.
Then again, I’ve seen the success of other people my coach coaches, so I tell myself: Trust your training…Trust your training…Trust your training…Trust your training…
I was kind of getting comfortable with this new training and accepting that, yes! This was going to work, when last Monday I went to the Doctor.
Pneumonia.
What!?!
It’s 33 days until race day! Nooooo!!!!!!
This was not good.
Panic mode set in.
I took my meds and rested until my long run Wednesday morning.
Bear in mind, all of this had been discussed with my doctor. He knew where I was in my training and I had his blessing to keep running.
So, I’m out running early Wednesday morning when my right Achilles started bugging me. I thought, “What!?!” and headed back to the house. I called MFH (My Favorite Husband) to set my Stick and a Zensah compression sleeve out front. I was going to put on the sleeve, roll out the calf and finish my run.
After that brief stop at the house, I went up toward Schaeffer’s Chapel and then turned back towards home. By now the sun was up and it was getting very hot, very fast. My calf was bugging me more now. That’s when I had a stern talk with myself.
“This is dumb. You’re sick Your leg hurts. You have pneumonia. Go. Home.”
I called MFH and told him the same thing. He started driving my direction and I started running his direction. We met somewhere in the middle. I hopped in the truck and we went home.
This is where good old Dr. Google comes into play!
I Googled that medication my doctor had given me. Wouldn’t you know at the tippy top of the “Bad” side effects was, “Tendon Rupture.”
What!?!
That did NOT make my morning.
Next call was to that doctor and I informed him I wasn’t going to take that stuff and this was why.
Who puts a runner on an antibiotic with a common side effect of tendon ruptures? I mean, seriously!? Think about it!
So, I waited a few days for that medication to work it’s way through my system and bought some KT Tape.
MFH taped me up for my Saturday morning run. I look like a have blue racing stripes! I’m hear to tell you, though, that tape did the trick!
I’m going to be taping myself up until I’m confident that my Achilles have completely recovered from those goofy antibiotics.
So, yes. I’ve been in #PanicMode. New coach (who is awesome!). New training method (which I really like!). Pneumonia 33 days out from race day (which I don’t like). Achilles problems (of which I’m not a fan).
#silverlining: My Achilles did NOT rupture!!! They’re grumpy, yes, but not ruptured. We will be thankful for that!
Berlin Marathon: 25 days!!!
#IRun4Adien
#teamZensah
#AbbottWMM
#MSBlueCrew http://www.msbluesmarathon.com/ Discount Code: MBM17MH
