I’m sitting here stretching after my third run back from an unexpected “off-season” if you will.
I took a two week vacation to Canada to visit family and friends from the middle of August and returned on 30 August. It was amazing! It was so great to see family and friends that I haven’t seen for over a year. I got to attend a family wedding, meet my new cousin for the first time, spend LOTS of time with my nephew and to top it all off I even got ENGAGED! So I’d say it was a pretty great trip…
Well... except for my training. I had every intention of keeping up with my training, but my trainers never even left my suitcase!
Before I left for Canada I felt like I was in a good place with running. I had surpassed that hump of 5km being my comfort zone and was comfortable running 8 and 9 miles. My confidence was really starting to increase and I was thinking wow I really CAN run this marathon! However, after three runs back, it’s a different story.
Where do I start?
The first five minutes of the run is brutal, getting my breathing settled, my form correct and settling into my pace; it all seems A LOT harder than it was before!
My right knee is symptomatic, which I believe to be my IT band. Twenty minutes into all three runs, it started to act up and I was forced into a run-walk combo. Then for the next day and a half, stairs hurt to go up and down and even slight inclines on the pavement will give me some grief.
My mid-back feels very stiff after my runs so I’m hoping that the work I’ve put in at The Running School hasn’t left me already and I’m back to rotating my torso while running.
Lastly the stitches (cramps) I am getting while running just don’t seem to ease, again forcing me to do a walk-run combo.
WHAT IS HAPPENING!?!?!
It all takes time, right? I got to a comfortable 8-9 miles distance once and I know I will do it again. I know what I need to do to get back to where I was and all it will take is hard work and dedication. I won’t lie - it’s slightly disappointing the amount of fitness I feel like I’ve lost, but I’m sure this won’t be the only hiccup in my London Marathon 2018 journey.
I am listening to the song ‘Keep your head up’ by Andy Grammer. If you have never heard this song, go look it up on YouTube. I love this song and it’s a good reminder that you have to be positive, especially through a journey like this. Times are going to get hard (I’m laughing at myself because I really do fear those days haha), but it’s all about the journey and I know I have a FANTASTIC support group that will help me get to that start line and hopefully across that finish line too!
I always love feedback and to hear about everyone else’s journeys whether they are past or present, so please feel free to share! Happy training, everyone!
PS Yes I have been stretching while writing this! Promise!
