Third Time's Maybe a Charm

Here I am sneaking up on my third marathon, one that I was pretty sure last fall I would not be doing.

Late last summer I finished a full racing season with a painful case of plantar faciitis in my right foot. I cross-trained for three full months, never once taking so much as a single running step, and did physical therapy every day without fail. The foot improved to about 85 or 90 percent, but plateaued there. I visited two doctors, the second telling me in late November that the foot was probably as good as it could get and as long as I could control the pain, I could run again.

So, in a major shock to my legs, I started running again right around Thanksgiving. I took it very easy. I made tentative plans to run a half marathon in April, but didn't sign up immediately. I wasn't sure how things would progress.

It took some time to really get my legs under me. They just weren't used to any kind of pounding, and most runs began with several minutes of what I call little electrical shocks all over my calves and quads. My wind was still pretty good, because my crosstraining had included intense biking, swimming and eliptical machines.

By Christmas, though, I was sure I would run that half marathon. In fact, after doing a 5k in late December, I signed up for the difficult Topeka to Auburn half marathon in January. I was in decent shape by then and finished in 1:58 something. If you're looking for a real challenge, I recommend this race for its scores of hills, gravel surfaces, cold weather and snow and ice.

Shortly after that I made my final decision about the April race: I signed up for the full St. Louis marathon.

My training regimen is mid-level - or designed to finish, but not necessarily to finish with a personal record. There's a good chance I could PR, however, since my previous marathons haven't been that fast. I think all I need is favorable weather and a reasonable race course. Proper training is assumed.

Last Saturday, Feb. 17, I ran the first of three planned 20-milers. This was done on a 35-degree day that featured 15-25 mph winds out of the north. There ice and slush on the streets, and I was frequently running in ankle-deep snow on the shoulder to avoid traffic. I stuck to a plan to run slowly - 10 to 11 min. miles, and felt fine until the start of mile 16.

It was at this point that I turned due north for two miles of sharp uphill. The wind literally stopped me in my tracks a couple of times and was brutally cold. Those two miles nailed me, sapped all my remaining energy, but I still made it through all 20 with an average of 10:40 for the entire run - right on the mark.

I may switch to a level 3 schedule, or add more speed work, for the remaining weeks of training if I continue to feel good and don't have any flair-ups with my foot.

Feb. 20, 2007
I am finally sufficiently recovered from last Saturday's run to put in my required 6 miles. I wanted to run a little - maybe 3 miles - on Monday after working the weights, but the gym was crowded and it took so long to get done on the weight machines that I just gave up and went home. I didn't have much leg energy yet anyway.
I wanted to add some speed work, which I usually do on Tuesday, but I really didn't feel all that fresh. I warmed up with two miles at just under 10 minutes each, then for 4 miles I ran under 8:30 (that's what passes for speed work for me). I ran one more mile slowly reducing my pace back to 9:40. I ended up with 7.15 miles and averaged 9:06 for the session.