Shin splints are stupid. They waited for the worst possible moment – the peak couple of weeks before my taper – and then they pounced. Since my 20-miler more than a week ago, I haven’t run and it’s made me angry, sad and frustrated.
I really do like running and I miss it. The weather has been getting nicer, the evenings lighter and my runs were more enjoyable. I backed off the speedwork to spend more time ambling around the heath running for fun, so when my shins started complaining I wasn’t impressed.
The number one goal for this marathon cycle was to not get injured, and I really thought it would happen this time. But it hasn’t and it sucks to not run. I spent several days feeling sorry for myself and angry at my legs.
Then on Monday night I got an email from one of my running group. In it she said:
“I’ve gone from someone who only ever ran on a treadmill for as short as possible to someone who has come to love and look forward to Thursday evenings with the girls.”
What was a disappointing weekend for my own running was spectacular in other ways. On Saturday morning my two groups took on their goal distances. The 0-5k group ran the Hampstead Heath Parkrun and were all smiling at the finish. One of the group cried a little she was so happy to have done it.
The 5-10k group ran 10k for the first time round Regents Park and we celebrated with a glass of Prosecco. I’m very proud of them all and very happy that they trusted me to help them this far.
I tell them often that I was in their position too once – I finished my first 10k struggling to comprehend how you could run another 20 miles on top of that and not thinking I’d ever be able to do it. I’ve now done that seven times. It’s easy to take that for granted.
My shin splints will go eventually, and I’ll still run London in just under a month’s time, it probably won’t be as fast as I’d hoped but I’ll run again and I’ll enjoy it. There’s just over three minutes between my PB and qualification for Boston marathon – the goal I’ve been working towards for the past few months. If it doesn’t happen this time, I’m OK with that
Best of luck to you! You got this!
Ooh that really stinks! Injuries are the worst. You have a great perspective though–hope your healing is speedy!
You’ll do it Laura!!!!! Determination and a good old bit of stubbornness will be sure to help you get the time you’ve trained for in London! Best of luck! Im running it too, hoping for sub 4.10 🙂
Fear not, Fountain. As you said, if it doesn’t happen this time, it’s all ok.
I’ll be at the finish line cheering you on, and whether you fly over the line in 3.30 or 5.30 or not at all, I can assure you of one thing:
There’ll be beer.
Ah shit, fucking shin splints man! i’ve had them since my first ever run, but you can manage them – Ice baths i found fantastic after every run/workout. That’s what’s good about Ironman you can crack on with bike n swim, and add in strength stuff to work around it. Hope it clears up soon, take it easy for the marathon, it’s all about the long term Ironman goal!
Nick
@TheHisKnibs
Hang in there! Injury stinks and it always pops up at the most inconvenient times. 🙁
Great post. My friend recently got injured not long before a half marathon and was feeling pretty down for a period, but lifted herself up and ended up doing brilliantly once she was better 🙂
Sophie
http://what-sophie-said.blogspot.co.uk/
xxx
Ah darling I hear ya but you’re right our bodies are amazing and they’ll get us there in the end. Everything will taste sweeter for the waiting.
Yes, that just life. Taking the good with the bad, but the bad definitely will not stop you in your tracks. You are a very determined person.