Since the Berlin marathon I have pretty much done no exercise. This wasn’t me being lazy, I just intentionally fancied a break.
This is pretty much how I spent the whole weekend
I was shattered after the marathon. My legs ached for three days afterwards – which is totally to be expected considering I ran a marathon without having trained further than 13 miles. Don’t ask me how I survived it at all, I have no idea. But I do know that it’s sensible to take a little break now.
I had a little bit of fun with some photo apps…
You might laugh to hear but I’d love to run the Portsmouth Coastal marathon in late December (just a few days before Christmas). I was going to run it last year but due to injury I never got there. I supported Ben running it and really enjoyed the day. Though the weather was atrocious and the scenery is…well it’s Portsmouth, I’m really keen to do it. It’s a local marathon, under 1000 runners and it’s a bit off-road (there’s a cut off time due to the tide coming in!). It’s only 10 weeks away, but I reckon I have some good fitness behind me now.
I’ll be starting my coaching from Kyle next week and he knows I’m keen to run it but he’s already advised that I should use at a training run in preparation for my goal marathon (London). Whatever a ‘training marathon’ is! Basically, I have no time intentions – I’m quite happy to plod (a relative term!) round slower than I have done in previous marathons and just tick the miles off. Marathons are my distance, I just love them. I love halves as well as an ‘easier’ option in terms of training and recovery but nothing beats the feeling of finishing a marathon. Perhaps this is because so far I’ve had quite good experiences, who knows.
And an update on Ben…it’s not great news sadly. He had his ultrasound and they found that his tendon, which connects his hamstring and knee, is swollen three times its normal size (he gets a ‘clicking’ sensation which is the tendon going over the bone). The pain is still there and he hasn’t run. The ultrasound specialists did a brilliant job of scaring the hell out of him saying he would never run again without getting injections. However Ben’s physio read the report and told him that that was rubbish. The ultrasound specialists have limited muscular-skeletal knowledge and don’t know all the possible treatments. HUGE SIGH OF RELIEF.
Basically the plan going forward is Ben to take 2-3 weeks of complete rest (no cycling, swimming, running) and ice every single day to reduce the swelling. Then he can start stretching and strengthening and eventually gently running as long as things are improving. Our physio reckons it might be 8 weeks until he can run again. But the take away message is he can and will run again. It might even be sooner. This means he sadly can’t do any races he had planned this year, but it does mean he can do the Brighton marathon next year (hopefully).
We’re both sad and pleased. Pleased that it’s nothing that can’t be solved somehow. If the above treatment doesn’t work then surgery is probably the next road to take. But he will run again. I’m sad though because I wish he could run – and so does he. It’s a big part of who we are and nothing compares in terms of exercise. But we just have to look at the bigger picture. I also need to tone down the amount I go on about running because it’s not very fair of me 🙁
Anyway, that’s us for the moment!
How do you recover from a big race or workout?
How do you deal with bad news?
Have you ever had to have surgery?
HANG ON !? ! are you running London? I didn’t know this? I am so pleased basically because I have got myself into a massive stress about the whole thing and thinking that I’ll be very lonely. I obviously know that you’ll be racing Paula whereas I will be in the masses but it is nice to know you will be there. Also, I read today that actually after even just 3 weeks of intense training a week off is good for you. Hope Ben is ok xx
lauren recently posted…Fear, Change and Exciting Times
Yep I am indeed – got a GFA place from Paris. It will be so good to see a familiar face. And Kate Maslin’s doing it too so the three of us can meet up beforehand or something? Calm each other down (well Kate will be fine, she’s a marathon rockstar).
AnnaTheApple recently posted…Things around here lately
I’m doing it too!! 🙂 Will be good to see other Hedgies there!
Running London would be amazing! Some day maybe I will have the opportunity to travel for a marathon overseas! Dealing with the bad news….don’t take it as bad. It is a time for growth. Learning new things about yourselves as you work through it together. One day at a time, glass half full!
Staci @ Hoosier Running Mom recently posted…Things that made me smile and hills
Very true, just gotta see the bigger picture and stay positive 🙂
AnnaTheApple recently posted…Things around here lately
What horrible news for Ben. Although much, much better news than it could have been. I think it must be part of the specialists job descriptions to scare us runners so that we try and take injuries a bit more seriously than we actually do. I think when Dan broke the bone in his leg playing football last year he was told 6 months before he would be playing again. But when I was chatting to the nurse she told me they usually double the amount of time or at least add a few weeks on because no sporty person ever sticks to the recommended time off! Dan was back after 4months.
I love how much you have gotten the marathon bug now! It’s so addictive! Also, I think you definitely deserve a week off after your amazing running last weekend! 🙂
That’s really interesting about what the nurse said. I suppose it makes sense. We just want to get back out there asap but we do need to be cautious (oh how I’ve learnt that…).
Seriously, it’s ALL about the marathons now.
AnnaTheApple recently posted…Things around here lately
That’s good news that Ben will be able to run again in the future. A bit of a scary time though.
I like the sound of the Portsmouth marathon, I imagine it must be nice to run a smaller, local event like that.
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Yeah I can’t wait for something a bit smaller and less intense. It’s funny because the whole of Berlin knew about the marathon pretty much but last year at Portsmouth it was like the select few chosen people knew, which was quite nice.
AnnaTheApple recently posted…Things around here lately
Poor Ben!! Sending him my well wishes!! The Portsmouth marathon sounds really cool – especially since there’s a time cutoff because of the tide!! Awesome!
Thanks Chelsea 🙂
I know, but it does add a little bit of pressure on. I don’t want wet feet!
AnnaTheApple recently posted…Things around here lately
Poor Ben 🙁 I’m glad he’s taking the news relatively well, but I wish things would look up for him a bit more. I might be facing surgery on my back and/or hip if this dead leg problem of mine isn’t cleared up within the next year (I know that’s a ridiculously long time-span, but the consensus seems to be that it will take that long to try out every available ‘free’ treatment) and I have had surgery before (almost ten years ago), but for a huge ovarian tumour…so that’s somewhat different.
Recovering sensibly now means you’re much more likely to be able to give Portsmouth a shot. And don’t feel bad for talking about running – I’m sure Ben understands that it’s a passion for both of you and it’s not your fault that he can’t run! I really do hope your both back to your best soon.
xxx
P.S I will e-mail you back! I’ve been awful in that respect…I’ve just been going through a bad patch and had a nightmare with aggressive commenters on the blog, but that’s no excuse.
I think that’s a good idea about trying everything else first – surgery is serious stuff, as I guess you’re well aware!
Ben is so understanding and is dealing with this so much better than I would be. He is such a good person – I always joke that I’m the horrible one of us and he makes up for me with being so nice and lovely.
No panic about the email! I saw you commented on Mary’s blog about that nasty comment – that sounds horrible. I mean seriously where do people get off thinking they have the right to say such nasty things on people’s blogs? I get criticisms and complaints but nasty and frightening comments are just wrong. I hope you’re alright. You definitely don’t deserve that! xx
AnnaTheApple recently posted…Things around here lately
Sorry to hear about Ben, but it’s great to read that he will still be able to run again. Good for you! I think listening to your body is so important and you obviously needed your rest or some recovery time. In the long run your body will appreciate the time off.
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Well your body is for life, that’s what I keep telling myself a few weeks of no running will do me the world of good.
AnnaTheApple recently posted…Things around here lately
I haven’t been doing much exercise either since, although I did have a good 7 mile run commute last night. I’ve been feeling absolutely knackered so haven’t really felt up for doing much. Sorry to hear about Ben, they should never say things like that “you’ll never run again”, that’s ridiculous, there are always so many options, and I’m sure he’ll get back to it, sometimes complete rest is best.
Lauren (@poweredbypb) recently posted…Vegan in Berlin
Wow 7 miles nice work. I have literally not run at all. I did a very gentle 20 minutes on the cross trainer but just felt no motivation. I was able to get myself going on that thing before Berlin because of the fear of the marathon. But now? Nothing…I barely broke a sweat! Whoops.
AnnaTheApple recently posted…Things around here lately
You did such a great job @ the Berlin marathon. Glad you reposted your time since I must’v missed it. So proud of you for how far you’ve come since your injury last year. You’re rocking it! Sorry to hear about Ben. Poor guy!! I’m just happy the one Dr. was completely wrong & he’ll be able to run again.
Thanks Jessie.
I’m sure Ben will run again. There are so many options and treatments out there, we won’t give up.
AnnaTheApple recently posted…Things around here lately
At least for Ben he has light at the end of the tunnel and a time he can work towards. My dad injured his tendon last year, and has not been to a parkrun at all in 2014. He started running gently again in the summer (after the physio gave him the OK- there is an op but he is “too old” – 60, with a parkrun pb of 22.22! so pretty fit and healthy)- he is up to 2 miles now so is hoping to make a parkrun before the end of the year. So anyway my point is take it slowly and the body has the ability to recover.
I think I would enjoy marathons more if I could run faster! The psychological thought of running for 5+ hours is hard to get your head around- I think that is why I like half marathons as they feel like a real challenge but at the same time I am pretty sure I will finish.
Yep, had an op. Don’t want to repeat that!
Maria @ runningcupcake recently posted…Activity lately
Exactly – it’s nice knowing an actual time frame now rather than not knowing at all what was wrong.
Sorry to hear about your dad 🙁 but good news that he’s getting better. You just have to take things gently and be patient…something I’m not particularly good at!
Yes I can imagine it would be hard to run for 5 hours. I always remember Nell McAndrew’s interview on MT where she said she found running her PB easier than running with her mum which was a 4+ hour marathon. The time on her feet was a real struggle. But then look at Mary, she runs 5 hour marathons and she’s an absolute rockstar at them!
Erm, hang on a minute lady!! What about the long break you were going to take from running after the Berlin marathon because of all the injuries?! Ha ha, although after running such a great race off so little training it’s no wonder you want another crack at the whip so soon, who wouldn’t? Just please, please be careful if you’re definitely doing another mara so soon. You know your body best, I just worry! Got my fingers crossed for Ben on a speedy recovery.
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Well when I said long break I meant 1-2 weeks not months! 😛
I will be in the hands of my coach next week and he knows my number one goal is to remain injury free so we’ll be ramping up things slowly. I do not want to get injured AGAIN.
AnnaTheApple recently posted…Things around here lately
So sorry to hear about poor Ben, hope he feels better soon. EEk on the marathon with the tide coming in, it would definitely spur you on though haha!
So cool that you’re running London 🙂
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