After overcoming my bout with groin pain in April, I returned to my marathon training effort, goal: Marine Corps Marathon, Oct. 25, 2009. My performance improved with regularity, and I lost the 20 pounds I gained from my dearth of running for the previous four months.
August my training was off schedule, and I struggled to make up for it in September. I worked my way up to two back-to-back 18 mile runs with good, chunky hill workout (Mormon Temple and Stoneybrook Dr) included over a weekend, when I noticed a pain in my left knee. This reminded me of a similar problem I encountered a year earlier, almost to the day and the same location, preparing for the NYC Marathon, when my patella (aka kneecap) was briefly dislocated.
I took a few days off and picked back up on my training. I still felt pain in my left knee, but the pain subsided during the run and has steadily diminished. There was some question in my mind about how prudent it would be to run the MCM with knee pain, but now there are no doubts. Aside from the training interruption, I'll be in good shape for the run.
The question now is what will be my target pace? I have a 30 minute range of goals to target:
1. 3:00 - The tantalizing 3 hour mark. This requires averaging a 6:53 pace. Aggressive but somehow in my delusional mind within the realm of possibility.
2. 3:03 - Break the 7:00 pace.
3. 3:06 - Previous PR achieved at the 2008 DC Marathon.
4. 3:10 - Time qualifier for the NYC Marathon
5. 3:19 - Previous MCM PR, which started a continuous streak of BQ times.
6: 3:30 - Boston Qualifying time for my age group (45-49).
My mindset now, the night before the run, is that I'll aim between #1 and #2. Am I getting greedy, as I normally do, and have to lower my sights? We'll have to see how things play out on race day.
-Em
Showing posts with label marathon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label marathon. Show all posts
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Friday, May 1, 2009
Hurdling Injuries: Groin Pain
It's been a long road back from last year's NYC Marathon. Shortly afterwards, starting in early December, I decided to address a lingering groin pain that was slowly getting worse. I tried stretching, ibuprofen, running slowly, but nothing would work.
I took a stab at self-diagnosis using Google and was fairly convinced that it might be an inguinal hernia. (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inguinal_hernia) The pain was in the right area, plus the pain would increase when I sneezed or coughed. While the pain was always present, it was manageable and low grade. Since there was no bulge or swelling it didn't fit the symptoms of the classic inguinal hernias.
Then I discovered something called a "sports hernia," also known as "athletic pubalgia." (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athletic_pubalgia)
Technically not a hernia but also causing chronic groin pain, it doesn't seem to be a commonly understood malady. The lack of a good definition of the cause made me believe my symptoms fit. What's more is that there are outpatient surgical procedures which claim to resolve the problem.
Surgery seemed like a drastic option, and how could I even be sure it would be successful? I did see a doctor and she considered the possibilities of hernias, muscle strain, and even hip fracture. Nothing turned up, so she referred me to a sports physician. The recommendations was RICE application (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation). No improvement noticed.
The whole time I had largely stopped running. Around February, I gave up on my entry to the Boston Marathon, and forfeited the entry fee. To make matters worse my diet had deteriorated and I had put on about 20 pounds since November.
Early April I gave up on any resolution (no surgery!) and decided to start running slowly. Around this time I decided to take another crack at resolving the pain by working out using forward lunges. (See http://www.coreperformance.com/knowledge/movements/forward-lunge.html) I noticed improvement immediately. Further, adding 35 pound weights in each arm seemed to work even better. I figured it out! I'm back!
-Em
I took a stab at self-diagnosis using Google and was fairly convinced that it might be an inguinal hernia. (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inguinal_hernia) The pain was in the right area, plus the pain would increase when I sneezed or coughed. While the pain was always present, it was manageable and low grade. Since there was no bulge or swelling it didn't fit the symptoms of the classic inguinal hernias.
Then I discovered something called a "sports hernia," also known as "athletic pubalgia." (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athletic_pubalgia)
Technically not a hernia but also causing chronic groin pain, it doesn't seem to be a commonly understood malady. The lack of a good definition of the cause made me believe my symptoms fit. What's more is that there are outpatient surgical procedures which claim to resolve the problem.
Surgery seemed like a drastic option, and how could I even be sure it would be successful? I did see a doctor and she considered the possibilities of hernias, muscle strain, and even hip fracture. Nothing turned up, so she referred me to a sports physician. The recommendations was RICE application (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation). No improvement noticed.
The whole time I had largely stopped running. Around February, I gave up on my entry to the Boston Marathon, and forfeited the entry fee. To make matters worse my diet had deteriorated and I had put on about 20 pounds since November.
Early April I gave up on any resolution (no surgery!) and decided to start running slowly. Around this time I decided to take another crack at resolving the pain by working out using forward lunges. (See http://www.coreperformance.com/knowledge/movements/forward-lunge.html) I noticed improvement immediately. Further, adding 35 pound weights in each arm seemed to work even better. I figured it out! I'm back!
-Em
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Oct 13 Baltimore Marathon (PR)
This was my first Baltimore marathon, 14th overall in the 8 years I've been running marathons. It was a beautiful day. The weather was sunny and 47°F with a light breeze.
My goal in Baltimore was to keep a 7:30 pace and to get in a quality long run I needed in advance of the 2007 Marine Corps Marathon coming up in 2 weeks. The mistake I've made so many times before (most recently in Boston) is peaking too soon and I was determined to stick to a reasonable pace and not burn out early. A 7:30 pace was ambitious since it would put me in striking range of my most recent PR (3:17 2007 National Marathon) though it was hard to gauge how realistic this was. My longest training run was 20 miles and I would have a hard time sustaining that pace even as my training cycle was at its peak. Another factor was the terrain. Baltimore definitely looked hilly.
Well, I found myself running at what I thought was a comfortable pace but it was more like 7:15 than 7:30! The first half was definitely easier to stay on pace. The second half was chock full of hills. From my recollection of the elevation map, I expected hills from mile 13 to mile 19 but they didn't seem to end until mile 25! This course definitely had more hills than Boston.
The spectators were a cheerful lot though there weren't that many. The loop around Ft. McHenry (miles 9-10) was the most scenic: a fort jutting out into the Chesapeake Bay with large ships on the horizon.
I finished strong, but straining, with a new personal record of 3:12:59. Now I'm wondering, since the Marine Corps Marathon is comparatively flat, perhaps I can aim for a pace of 7:15 and break the 3:10 barrier...
Below are my stats, and a pace reading per mile with the corresponding elevation.
-Em
Baltimore Marathon Personal Statistics
========================================
age: 45
chip time: 3:12:59
overall: 113/2538
sex place: 101/1706
45-49 div place: 10/213
pace: 7:21.7
mile 6: 0:44:04
mile 10: 1:13:12
mile 13: 1:34:03
half: 1:36:03
mile 19: 2:20:02
mile 21: 2:35:58
My goal in Baltimore was to keep a 7:30 pace and to get in a quality long run I needed in advance of the 2007 Marine Corps Marathon coming up in 2 weeks. The mistake I've made so many times before (most recently in Boston) is peaking too soon and I was determined to stick to a reasonable pace and not burn out early. A 7:30 pace was ambitious since it would put me in striking range of my most recent PR (3:17 2007 National Marathon) though it was hard to gauge how realistic this was. My longest training run was 20 miles and I would have a hard time sustaining that pace even as my training cycle was at its peak. Another factor was the terrain. Baltimore definitely looked hilly.
Well, I found myself running at what I thought was a comfortable pace but it was more like 7:15 than 7:30! The first half was definitely easier to stay on pace. The second half was chock full of hills. From my recollection of the elevation map, I expected hills from mile 13 to mile 19 but they didn't seem to end until mile 25! This course definitely had more hills than Boston.
The spectators were a cheerful lot though there weren't that many. The loop around Ft. McHenry (miles 9-10) was the most scenic: a fort jutting out into the Chesapeake Bay with large ships on the horizon.
I finished strong, but straining, with a new personal record of 3:12:59. Now I'm wondering, since the Marine Corps Marathon is comparatively flat, perhaps I can aim for a pace of 7:15 and break the 3:10 barrier...
Below are my stats, and a pace reading per mile with the corresponding elevation.
-Em
Baltimore Marathon Personal Statistics
========================================
age: 45
chip time: 3:12:59
overall: 113/2538
sex place: 101/1706
45-49 div place: 10/213
pace: 7:21.7
mile 6: 0:44:04
mile 10: 1:13:12
mile 13: 1:34:03
half: 1:36:03
mile 19: 2:20:02
mile 21: 2:35:58
mile elev pace
---- ------ -----
(each * counts as 50 feet in elevation)
m0 .** -
m1 .*** 7:35
m2 .**** 7:16~
m3 .*** 7:16~ (14:32)
m4 .**** 7:09
m5 .** 6:59
m6 .*** 7:13~
m7 .* 7:13~ (14:26)
m8 . 7:24
m9 . 7:50
m10 . 6:58
m11 . 7:27
m12 . 7:04
m13 . 7:18~
m14 . 7:18~ (14:35)
m15 .* 7:23
m16 .* 7:13
m17 .* 7:29
m18 .** 7:41
m19 .*** 7:52~
m20 .***** 7:52~ (15:43)
m21 .**** 7:27
m22 .**** 7:42
m23 .**** 7:24
m24 .** 6:59
m25 .*** 7:43
m26 .* 6:51
end . 1:17
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Boston bound!
Just this afternoon I discovered that I am qualified for the 2007 Boston Marathon. This shouldn't have been a surprise since my 3:19 time at the 2006 Marine Corps Marathon (October 29) qualified me to enter. I expected to be at Boston in 2008 rather than 2007. Now I'm 2 1/2 months away from the Boston Marathon (April 16) without the level of training I would have been if I'd known otherwise. How did this happen?
I recall when I came home after the MCM anticipating entry in BM there was bold lettering that confused and misled my post-marathon addled brain: "The qualifying window for the 2008 Boston Marathon will begin on September 23, 2006." Embedded within an earlier paragraph and no emphasis: "Qualifying times [for the 2007 Boston Marathon] must be run on or after September 24, 2005." Voila! Not only do I qualify for the 2008 Boston Marathon, but 2007 as well.
Winter is typically when I enter hibernation mode. Little running since it's difficult to get motivated to go running early when it's dark and cold outside. Sleeping in. Much like a bear in a cave, only eating more.
Fortunately, my winter training situation is much better this year. Now, with 2 1/2 months to go for the BM, time is short. Time to train. Planning on a Long Slow Distance 14 miler tomorrow. I can do this.
-Em
I recall when I came home after the MCM anticipating entry in BM there was bold lettering that confused and misled my post-marathon addled brain: "The qualifying window for the 2008 Boston Marathon will begin on September 23, 2006." Embedded within an earlier paragraph and no emphasis: "Qualifying times [for the 2007 Boston Marathon] must be run on or after September 24, 2005." Voila! Not only do I qualify for the 2008 Boston Marathon, but 2007 as well.
Winter is typically when I enter hibernation mode. Little running since it's difficult to get motivated to go running early when it's dark and cold outside. Sleeping in. Much like a bear in a cave, only eating more.
Fortunately, my winter training situation is much better this year. Now, with 2 1/2 months to go for the BM, time is short. Time to train. Planning on a Long Slow Distance 14 miler tomorrow. I can do this.
-Em
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