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I'd hoped for a carbon copy schedule this year. Red Hot, followed by a trip to Ojai for the mania of Chris Scott's Coyote Two Moon; a final tune up in Pocatello in May, then the big appointment at the end of June, only this time with Western States in place of Bighorn.
Injuries, though, chart other courses. And although I haven't had Red Hot on my schedule for a while now, the coming and going of the actual race day is a hard thing to confront - partly because it was such a great experience last year, which I wanted to repeat, but also because it makes me wonder what may have to be lopped off the schedule next.
Injuries are part of the game, of course, and my current one, as with most, has a rich and boring history to it. The short story is that it's bad knee pain likely caused by IT band issues. But it's been going on since early November, and for the last two months, I've been breaking out the calendar and training schedules to plot those dreaded fail-safe dates, the day after which I have to drop a race if I'm not up to a certain training volume. Red Hot - gone. Coyote - gone. Antelope Island - possible. And so on.
Thankfully, my knee seems to be showing a bit of halting progress. And even if it comes in fits and starts, I'll take what I can get. After all the miles and hours and vertical of last season, where anything under 5 miles hardly seemed worth the time, I'm getting reaquainted with the pure joy of running, however short the distance.
Of course, each successful outing makes me hungry for more, much more - especially as the start at Squaw seems so close - but right now the best thing I can do is push away from the table and just be patient.
(Photo: Greg Norrander)
7 comments:
Stay positive, keep up the rehab and foam rolling/sticking. I'm going through the exact same thing right now and can really relate. Sounds like you're over the worst of it.
Keep your chin up. Keep up the rehab, recover, and you'll be back out there before you know it.
Foam roller!
Thanks, guys. Appreciate the positive remarks. I'm going for the world distance record for miles by foam roller...
@Derrick. Sorry to hear you're battling injury too. Heal quickly.
I know where your at both physically and mentally - hang tough! Like everyone says: roll, stretch (all hip and legs not just ITB), and strength work. careful with the strength - get advice! Looking forward to tomorrow, hope you are tapering.
Take it easy! You will be hitting Big miles before you know it.
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