Overdoing it

Being a bit of a newcomer to long distance running I underestimated how much toll a half marathon would have on me. I expected to feel pretty tired after long runs and perhaps have some muscle aches for a day or two after, but I thought as long as I followed my training plan, ate properly before and after a run, stretched well and rested that I would avoid injury.

I used to think if you become injured that it would be pretty obvious. There would be some kind of popping or snapping sensation, a very sharp pain or it would be extremely difficult to move the injured limb. So when my mileage increased to around 6 mile runs and I started feeling tightness in my left hamstring, I put it down to just that - tightness in my left hamstring. A few stretches would sort that out and I would be good to go.

As my mileage increased to around 8 miles the tightness continued and occasionally shifted to my inside thigh. So I consulted the source I most commonly use when I need medical assistance: The Internet. At this point I became pretty sure that I had one of the following: a strained hamstring, a groin strain, tendonitis or possibly a stress fracture. Reading through the symptoms I came the conclusion that I had some kind of groin strain and devised an elaborate groin strap using a strapping method I also found on the internet. Weirdly, this actually did help with the hamstring/groin issue and, despite an immense amount of chaffing from the cohesive tape I used, I was able to complete the longest run of my training plan (approximately 12 miles) with minimum discomfort.

With 2 weeks to go before the half marathon I thought I would take a quick trip to see a physiotherapist to see if I could get an actual diagnosis and some tips to help me through the half marathon.

'Lay off the running,' I was told.

Not quite the words I wanted to hear. So I put my negotiating skills to use.

'I hear what you're saying, however I've kinda got a half marathon in 2 weeks.'

The compromise was I would take a week off then just do a couple of easy runs in the week running up to the race.

This sounded easy but was one of the hardest things to do. After 2 days of not running I felt a bit twitchy. After a week of not running I was sure I had lost all fitness and strength that I had built up over the last couple of months. My husband assured me that this is very common with people when they are reducing their mileage (tapering) in last 2 weeks before a race and I just needed to trust the training plan.

The paranoia continued, however, until race day and at this point I was doubtful I would make it to the end. Once the race began I was swept along by thousands of runners of all ages and abilities and the paranoia diminished. I was finally doing what I had trained so hard for! I was amazed that at the 6 mile mark I had no discomfort in my hamstring. Nothing at 7 miles either. At 8 miles the ache began however. I managed to change my stride and the ache disappeared. Then it returned about 10 minutes later, this time with a vengeance. The ache shot down my hamstring and my knee throbbed. I started to seriously doubt I would make it to the end.

I thought about what my husband had said to me during my training.

'If something isn't right, change something.'

I slowed down and focused on making my right leg take a bit more of the load. The pain decreased and at 10 miles I felt strong. At 11 miles the crowds had gathered and made such a lot of noise that I found my pace increasing. I could almost taste the finish line. About 400m to the finish line I found myself galloping towards Glasgow Green. I had to remind myself that 400m is the distance of a running track, that maybe I should pull back a bit. Then I saw the 200m sign and thought 'I'm having that!' There was no pain in my leg, just the joy of crossing the finish line and completing my first half marathon.

In retrospect, I did overdo the training. I was presumptuous that a plan would keep me injury free. What I didn't take into account was my running mileage was quite low prior to starting the training plan. Prior to the half marathon training, I was more than capable of running 3 miles at a reasonable pace, but I had only been doing this once or twice a week. This was not enough. I had no issues with my aerobic fitness as I regularly played tennis, cycled and swam, but I was not equipped from a musculoskeletal point of view to deal with the increased mileage of training for 13.1 miles of repetitive running.

I have since met with a good physiotherapist who has advised me that I have an overuse problem with my hamstring tendon. This explains the pain manifesting itself in various different places in my left leg. Now that I understand the problem I can take action to sort it out. Basically to strengthen up my glutes. I'm now in rehab, doing core strengthening exercises twice a week, cycling, swimming and running very carefully, using a running pattern similar to a couch to 10k plan. It feels strange to go back the way, but I have found that I love running so much that it is worth starting over again. The marathon may just have to wait a bit longer. 😊

Get your shoes on and get your arse out of the door

When you're new to running the biggest battle is often getting the shoes on and getting out of the house. This is especially true if it's raining/cold/getting a bit dark/5.30 in the morning. The thought of snuggling up on the couch to watch re-runs of Big Bang Theory or going back to sleep is much more appealing. Sometimes it can help to have a little bit of motivation; a gentle nudge in the right direction:

'Get your shoes on and get your arse out of the door. NOW.'

My husband has a knack of stepping in at just the right moment with just the right thing to say. Although slightly affronted, this made me laugh so much that it has become my mantra if I am struggling to get motivated.

This might not work for everyone. Other strategies I employ include:

If it's raining outside...

Wearing a cap or a visor stops the rain running down my face, which is extremely irritating.

If it's 5.30 in the morning...

I don't particularly like running in the morning. Sometimes it's a necessary evil if you're juggling time commitments, however. I also don't like running without some form of fuel so I leave a banana next to the bed, set the alarm for about 15 minutes before getting up, then when the alarm goes off eat the banana whilst getting dressed (and waking up), wait 15 minutes for banana to settle a bit then go. Once moving it is a pleasure to be up so early when it's quiet and I feel great for the rest of the day.

If a bit achy from a previous run...

This is a judgement call. Sometimes active recovery can help improve a slight ache*. This was the case when I had a dull ache in my hip once. I wasn't sure about running that day and spent a long time debating whether or not to go. In the end I decided to go for a very gentle run, at a pace that only just resembled running, and the ache disappeared. If an ache gets worse, however, it's probably best to stop and rest.

There will be times when there just isn't motivation. If you're feeling a bit done in it might be time to just rest. It's best to listen to your body and if it needs a break then give it one. You'll feel a hundred times better on your next run.

Other times, it might be worth visualising the end goal: how will you feel when you accomplish that first 5k, 10k or something further? How proud will you be that you did that? Whether it's crossing the finish line and getting a medal round your neck, or just completing your training plan; that feeling of pushing yourself a little bit beyond your comfort zone, getting fitter and saying 'I did that' is worth getting your arse out of the door.


*Although I have spent far too much time reading about running injuries on the internet I am by no means a qualified physiotherapist or doctor. Any ideas I have are purely things that have worked for me and should not be considered medical advice.

Training plans and other commitments

I am probably known to a few people as a bit of a breenger. For those not so familiar with Scots language, a breenger is someone who rushes into things a bit, possibly without really thinking it through. Since I had breenged on ahead with signing up for a half marathon with only 10 weeks to go I thought I should act promptly and get myself a PLAN.

Cue the Google search. Lots of plans there, many of which you can pay for but wait, just what I was looking for, the free ones! I thought the Edinburgh Marathon half marathon training plan (www.edinburghmarathon.com/training-zone/hmarathon_tp/) was a good place to start as my aim was ultimately to do the full Edinburgh Marathon the following year.

I could squeeze a 12 week plan into 10 weeks. Along with the tennis league I had signed myself up with a couple of months prior, a job, 4 year old son, husband and a house to clean. It would be fine!

Training plan was scrutinised and reproduced in my diary. I was so excited at the prospect of taking on this challenge! A bit doubtful that I would actually see it through in its entirety, but excited nevertheless! 

The thing is, the training plan doesn't exactly account for the unexpected things. Like when your car needs serviced and you have your 4 year old with you. You're told it will take 3 hours to get the car serviced and let's be honest, a 4 year old doesn't want to sit about waiting for the car to be serviced for 3 hours. A 4 year old wants to be entertained. And the nearest form of entertainment is a soft play, about a 20 minute walk away. The 4 year old doesn't want to walk for 20 minutes; he wants UP. So you give him a piggy back and when you've been for a run the day before the butt muscles are a bit tired and start to ache but you keep piggy backing through the ache because that's what you do for your 4 year old. 

I'm not really sure if piggy backing a preschooler around can be considered cross-training.

Thankfully the butt muscles recovered and I somehow managed (thereabouts) to squeeze the 12 week plan into 10 weeks, along with tennis, child, husband and job commitments. 

The house was and still is a pit, however. Something has to give. Let's be honest, in 5 years I'll look back and think: 'Cool, I did that half marathon'. I doubt I'll look back fondly on how clean my floors were.

Maybe I could do a marathon!

Having not taken part in a running event since leaving high school, this came as a slight surprise to my husband.

'Perhaps you should start with something a bit smaller, such as a half...or a 10k?' he suggested wisely.

I pondered over this, scratching my chin whilst thinking about which charity I would run the marathon for.

'You could do the Glasgow Half Marathon in October, that's just a few months away.'

I pondered over this a bit longer, then decided to pop on to the Great Scottish Run website, just to have a look. I looked at the map of the route, then realised a marathon would be double that distance.

'Maybe you're right', I concurred as I clicked 'Enter Now' on the Great Scottish Run website. Just to see.

13.1 miles. That wasn't too bad. I could do that! Yes, that can be the new plan and if it all goes well, I'll sign up for the Edinburgh Marathon immediately after!

Before my husband could suggest a 10k might actually be a better place to start, I had a screen in front of me telling me I had entered the half marathon.

Little did I realise that at that moment, there was quite literally no going back.