Friday, October 25, 2013

BIG MISTAKE

After running a PR at the Columbus Half Marathon this past Sunday, I made a big mistake. My personal record time motivated me to get out there and start training for the next half marathon. I was seriously considering running the Tour de Ashand Half (http://www.ashlandrunners.com/) in Ashland, Ohio on December 7. Big Mistake.

On Sunday at the ten mile mark during the Columbus half my calf cramped. I finished the race in a lot of pain, but I didn't slow down much. Two days later the calf felt fine. I figured it was just a cramp. I ran an eight miler on Wednesday feeling just a little sore, and biked an hour on Thursday. Then I tried a ten miler today. Stupid, stupid, stupid. At the eight mile mark my calf cramped again, just like it did in the race on Sunday. This time it took my hamstring with it. I had to walk and jog the last two miles of the training run. Now I am probably out for at least a week.

BIG LESSON: After a long, hard race like a half or full marathon, take your time coming back. Keep your mileage down and your pace slower. Give your muscles time to recover, or you will end up like me: INJURED. :(

I plan on biking the next several days and then testing it about Wednesday with an easy six miler. Is it possible to be too motivated to train for a race. YES. Don't be a fool like me. Take it easy for a couple of weeks after a long, hard race.

If you would like a free download of The Old Man and the Marathon click on the link below:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/351449
or go to Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Old-Man-Marathon-ebook/dp/B00ESVLMOA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382654213&sr=8-1&keywords=the+old+man+and+the+marathon
or go to barnesandnoble.com
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-old-man-and-the-marathon-joe-ellis/1116763619?ean=2940148767169&itm=1&usri=the+old+man+and+the+marathon

No comments:

Post a Comment