You’ve been very kind to me this year, you’ve given me a lot of things. There was that half marathon in Bangkok that you rescheduled perfectly to let me do it a few days before flying home from my travels. Then you let me do two marathons in six weeks while I also worshiped at the alter of the Gods of Beer and Rum. Thanks for sharing me.
You’ve helped me get three PBs this year across three distances: a 45 minute 10K, a sub 1:45 half-marathon and a sub-4 marathon. Really, you’re spoiling me. But before this year is out I just want one more thing from you.
I’m supposed to be doing Venice Marathon in four week’s time. But I’ve got a problem with my leg. It was feeling dodgy before the last half marathon, but I raced it hard, got the time I wanted but ended up with a leg I haven’t been able to run on since.
Held together with kinesiology tape and after 10 day’s rest, I managed a 3 mile run and then a 10 mile run taking it slow. My physio says with stretching and low mileage, I may be able to get to the start line in Venice – but I think it will take more than that.
And so, here’s the deal I put to you: if you let me start Venice Marathon with two functioning legs, I will not drink a drop of alcohol from now until I cross the finish line. That’s no beer, no wine, no gin and tonic after a hard swim session.
Not only that but I’ll give up on trying to get a ‘Good for Age’ time in Venice, I’ll just run it for the fun of running a marathon and be glad I’m able to take part – however slow I go. I’ll enjoy the scenery and soak up the atmosphere.
If that’s not enough I’ll help other runners – I’ll offer to pace those I know that want to get a sub-2 half marathon and I’ll volunteer as a marshal at races.
So there’s the deal. I await you answer on next week’s long run!
Your biggest fan,
Lazy Girl!
Fingers xed the leg sorts itself out. I’ll even throw in a prayer for ya to the marathon gods. JJx
Have you thought of aqua running? Involves wearing an attractive floatation belt and ‘running’ in the deep end of your local public pool. (It doesn’t *have* to be a public poll, but I found this just added to the shame and humiliation).
Shame and humiliation aside, it means you are still moving all your muscles as if you were running, but with absolutely no added pressure from hitting that darned hard earth.
I used it when out with shin splints for 5 weeks whilst training for my first marathon this year. I did my ‘long runs’ in the pool (VERY boring, and a friend with the same injury taining for the same marathon used it for her ‘tempo runs’.
Lots of you tube videos about it. Hope the leg feels better soon!
I’m sorry to hear about your leg. I’m in training for my first ultra and have pushed it a bit too hard myself, slight runners knee. A month out, you’ve got plenty of time to rest and hopefully recover. As much running as you’ve put in this year, I’m sure you could not run up to the race and still finish ok. Injuries suck, and always hit at the most inopportune times. Rest up, eat healthy, and get plenty of sleep and let your leg recover. Good luck!
Thanks guys. I’m more confident about making it to the start now but it might not be as fast as I’d hoped.
Laura.