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Original poster

spring marathoners

344 replies

Mitchy1nge · 06/01/2015 20:06

suspect there are a few of us preparing for a spring marathon - any interest in chat about training schedules, black toe nails and so on?

OP posts:
VLM2015 · 06/02/2015 22:21

Hi

My first London marathon. I'm doing the 16 week plan- just finished week 5.

It has been hard going, I only ran 50 mins, as planned but could of cried I found it so difficult- came back with a banging headache, tearful and fed up!

I Need to start using gel packs as at the moment I'm just sipping lucozade sport every 10 mins or so.

I feel like I will never get to finish the race at this rate!

Help?

Original poster
Mitchy1nge · 06/02/2015 18:12

it's not really a proper spin bike, it sort of held itself out to be one but it's not - also makes a horrible noise now but have had it for a while, it does have the same plus/minus dial as the spin bikes at the gym though and a similarly uncomfortable saddle

is only for emergency use so mustn't grumble plus it is orange plus am no pro cyclist - it was about £300 I think, bodysculpture, would probably not recommend but it's all I have by way of that sort of thing

OP posts:
Pleaseputyourshoeson · 06/02/2015 16:48

Do you own a spin bike? I'm looking to buy one but put off by not knowing what brand/model to buy. I've mulled a turbo trainer before but I think they take up more room. Watt bikes are ££££. Would really like to have an ' at home' training option and I thought a spin bike might be bestseeing as I do the odd tri.

Original poster
Mitchy1nge · 06/02/2015 14:35

oh dear :(

yes am also looking at my spin bike, can't press on ball of foot yet but soon

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Pleaseputyourshoeson · 06/02/2015 13:31

I'm back and I failed hop tests big time and now feel sore after joint has been tested and instructions not to run, to wear an air cast boot as much as I'm willing to and to really let the joint settle. Bah humbug. Stationery bike is about my only option.

Original poster
Mitchy1nge · 06/02/2015 12:28

we must be stupid to put ourselves through this

I feel very stupid anyway, can't even flex my foot at rest now, it's worse than ever - went for a very ploddy 3 or 4 miles and now it doesn't want to bear weight at all

I had to try though. If it's just a matter of a couple of weeks I could still be on course for the marathon, there's another half next month. Better call my physio. Good luck with yours x

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Pleaseputyourshoeson · 06/02/2015 11:07

Good luck for your race this weekend Mitchy, hope the calf is feeling better. My ankle is improving and I put my running gear on to go to boot camp this morning but have stopped myself as I kind of know I'm pushing my luck to do it when not fully healed. I know I couldve prob got through it and tolerated the soreness but at the back of my mind is how sore it would be after and if I'll make it worse. I'm walking without limping and can run a bit but I can tell From jogging a few meters to school gates that my feet are v much staying flat ish and heel strike and not wanting to rise up much. Physio at lunchtime and then I'm going to go and cycle in the gym. And hopefully Physio will clear me to do some short test runs this weekend. He said he'd do hop test stuff etc. I suspect it needs more time - tenderness when I come off weight bearing. if I push it I think it will inflame again which means the tissue will catch in the joint and I'll be back to square one. Patience.
I'm wondering about cortisone option?

Original poster
Mitchy1nge · 04/02/2015 19:34

it's only a bit more than double what you're doing now? Grin

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LadyBlaBlah · 04/02/2015 19:21

9.5 weeks til my marathon. I'm still in the "never gonna be ready" zone. 4 hours of running seems ridiculous at this point right now Sad

LadyBlaBlah · 04/02/2015 19:18

I'm really sorry for you injured ones. You. WILL get better. And you certainly won't get lardy in a week.

I have literally no idea what you should do with these injuries so no help at all. And I just hurt my pride today rolling on the ground in front of horrified motorists.

You'll be back very soon Thanks

Original poster
Mitchy1nge · 04/02/2015 18:57

am losing perspective a bit too, but have been here before and I don't know if that makes it better or worse?

am still hoping a few days rest will produce miraculous results, it's painful in walk but less so, but deep down I know these things cannot heal properly that quickly

I suddenly remembered that the physio treated my soleus strain with heat rather than ice, am wondering whether to switch? Maybe soleus too far away to be reached by ice? I don't know what reminded me, it is certainly more difficult to warm up the gel pack things than to freeze them

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Pleaseputyourshoeson · 04/02/2015 18:21

Hope you didn't hurt yourself Blahblah! That's what's got me into trouble. I think I stumbled on a tree root a couple of weeks back and hurt my knee and my ankle but I felt only a fleeting roll pic my ankle whereas my knee Wasserstein but I continued running on it and I think then compensated by landing heavily on my left foot hence swollen tissue getting trapped in ankle joint. I'm def seeing an improvement today, I'm walking on it better. It still catching a bit on certain movements and a bit achy but otherwise heaps better. Not runnable yet but I'm hopeful :-) I'm envious of your 8 miles, I'm envious of every person I see out running at the mo. It's a killer doing nothing. Physio said not to even swim before fri. I feel like I'm larding up and losing shape by the hour - nothing like completely losing all perspective ??

LadyBlaBlah · 04/02/2015 15:21

Loving all this technical talk.

I am getting completely OBSESSED with running now. It's ruling all my planning, eating, hair washing, sleeping.

Totes fell over on my 8 miler today. That was a new one Grin

Original poster
Mitchy1nge · 03/02/2015 22:57

actually that's all quite thought provoking - my stride has lengthened, a running friend noticed it (and garmin confirms, no footpod but the FR220 measures it somehow and it's crept up from 0.8 something to 0.96) and suggested shortening it to help my lower back issues (assumed I hurt it riding, but who knows what's going on?)

my average cadence is 166spm, I guess that is low, seem to think 185 is the magic number?

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Pleaseputyourshoeson · 03/02/2015 22:39

I totally get the 'can't run= low mood thing. I'm the same and trying v v hard not to slide from not being able to run. If you are road running, have you thought about the camber? Is that pissing off your leg? I think/know that the camber really f@cks with my legs which is why I prefer trails. And the race I ran in was on road whic I normally avoid. Is your stride short enough, under your body enough? Cadence high? I've had to really try and drop my forefoot up on toes running to a mid foot strike and shorten my stride. I also was told to run with a maximal heel drop to minimise calf fatigue. I suspect none of this is helpful but I'm trying to think up anything else you can consider. I think my ankle issue comes from compensating on it due to not resting a sore knee which I think comes from a probable hip weakness.

Original poster
Mitchy1nge · 03/02/2015 22:22

oh shit I forgot to get ibuprofen gel, not really meant to take NSAIDs so am not (I do if am utterly incapacitated like recent back pain)

other than the prancing about on my toes (can't seem to help this) am not sure what I do to overload my calves - last time it was a big change from running off road to on, and an increase in distance and overall volume, but went through the whole physio rehab thing (was not a candidate for orthoses or special shoes or anything, just stayed in neutral ones) and I've been cautious to the point of neurosis this time, have been working with a special rehabilitative personal trainer who is even more cautious

I still think there is time for it to heal and adapt, it has a very very bad effect on my mood and confidence though - if I can't run for a while I will find other things to do in the meantime and get pleasure from them but running is really my best thing so I will fucking cry if it doesn't resolve swiftly

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Pleaseputyourshoeson · 03/02/2015 22:09

Mitchy, have you got any arnica? I'm rubbing arnica oil in, it might help? The oil will also let you massage with some slip which is softer going around the area. Ice ice ice as often as you can too. Taker turmeric, arnica pills, ibuprofen or naproxen/diclofenac . Also if you are putting ibuprofen gel on it too at night you could try wrapping it in cling film so that you calf rather than clothes/bedsheets are absorbing it. Drink loads of water to help too and eat lots of protein for muscle repair. That's what I'm doing and hoping that the rest and throw everything at it will do the trick. My mission after this is like you to try and figure out why I am ALWAYS getting injured. Ive orthotics I'm trying to break in but I have such reservations about them there are two schools of thought - fix your feet by strengthening them and get your muscles imbalances sorted and re think running technique or else go with the orthotics and let them readjust gait. Ugh I dunno.

Original poster
Mitchy1nge · 03/02/2015 21:44

that's a pretty positive and philosophical attitude please sounds like a good plan

I kept up my endurance really well on the rowing machine when injured before and it was a fairly seamless transition back to running or run/walk, I just did 5ks and 10ks on it at roughly the same pace as I'd run them - might have to revert to that

thanks for asking isit, it's much much less painful although still visibly swollen and if I run my finger over the area it's very tender, I can't lift myself onto the ball of that foot (like a calf raise) but there are still 4 whole days between me and the half marathon, will try a test run on Friday I think

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JennyOnTheBlocks · 03/02/2015 21:32

thanks, i've been trying with gels etc, SiS give me terrible wind, so tried high5 on sunday, don't think I took it soon enough, or with enough water

have now got a hydration pack so don't have to think about faffing about with belt etc, i have a shaped water bottle, but hate carrying it

also going to give shot bloks a go - this weekend

isittheweekendyet · 03/02/2015 21:26

Well done Jenny on your long run. I had an awful wall experience in my last half marathon, I just wanted to stop and lie down! Are you fuelling well enough while you're out? 2 hours is a long time to be exercising and I take something with me for anything over 45 mins on a long run, usually a gel.

Mitchy, hope things are ok with you. Snow here again today so missed my planned 4 mile which is the first run I've missed in 4 weeks so feeling a bit Hmm Won't be able to go out until Sat and Sun for definite now and Sunday is due to be a 12 miler. Eeek.

Pleaseputyourshoeson · 03/02/2015 21:26

Well done Jenny. Right I've been to have ankle looked at and its an ankle impingement issue which with lots of ice/ibuprofen and rest should heal ok so I'm still believing that if I keep fit via a bike or upper body swimming I can still get round the marathon. I've done 16 miles and I have the rest of Feb and half of March to fit one more 18-20 miler and then a batch of 13 ish milers and a taper. I'm thinking that If my aim is not about time but just completion that with sheer guts n determination I will do it. I just need to do it uninjured. Loads of people seem to run the VLM on way less training so I think I must be able to do it. I'm mentally persuading myself that I could allow myself a walking break every 5k if need be or something. I'm refusing to get down or fed up as there will be other races and I think if I don't manage this one that there will be another little one somewhere I can do. The one I'm doing isn't a big name one, I am just doing a tiny one so that I can just plug my headphones in and run my own race. But first to mend this ankle....

JennyOnTheBlocks · 03/02/2015 20:47

leemur i'm on a 3 runs a week training, plan, and so far so good

had an horrendous run on sunday though, two hours on my feet (longest ever) and i found The Wall. I could have broken down and cried right in the street, almost jumped on a bus and called it all in. But I didn't, i gave myself a right good talking too, and while I did cut the run slightly short, managed almost 8 miles. Even went out and did the recovery run in the snow today

leemur · 02/02/2015 22:19

Sorry to hear you're sore again Mitchy hope it doesn't come to anything.
That's a good run Lady hope you feel better tomorrow.

I did a very slow 6 miles on Saturday - the whole route was incredibly icy. Also did a wee interval session this evening on a half mile stretch of cleared pavement. The conditions underfoot are really hampering my training!

I did read on runnersworld about a marathon training programme based on 3 runs per week. It sounds quite interesting although I'm not sure I'm brave enough to deviate from more conventional plans!

Original poster
Mitchy1nge · 02/02/2015 20:50

I hope you feel better soon, these cold temperatures are just awful, would a bath help do you think?

Did 4 miles today and horrible sharp sudden 'ping' in my left calf, it still hurts now but have been icing it on and off. I can't even walk properly on it. It's mad, a short, slow and flat run that couldn't have been easier.

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LadyBlaBlah · 02/02/2015 20:40

Yeah the cold is just awful. As well as the ice and snow and hail.

I did 13.5 miles this morning. It felt ok. But I feel actually ill now. Fevery, cold, tired, miserable.
I'm waiting til dcs are ready so can go to bed. Zzzzz.

I actively plan my routes to avoid hills in the last miles...I too would be driving to end point if that was impossible Smile

Good luck for the half Mitchy. A week of low distance will be just the tonic.