Boston Marathon Training Update

I haven’t done a blog update on my Boston Marathon training in quite awhile, and now that I have a slight injury, I thought I would slow down and catch you all up.

My training has been progressing nicely with a weekly long run being the central part of my training with shorter, indoor workouts to help build muscle strength, endurance, and speed. I have been sticking to a formula that includes one spinning class a week, one 5 mile elliptical workout with hills at a “pushing it” pace of around 8 minute miles, and then some upper body strength, stretching, and of course a visit to the Healthworks sauna. It gets me through the winter!

Last week I started to notice the left side of my left foot. It didn’t hurt exactly, but I was aware of it in a way that I normally am not. I decided to skip the long run after completing a not-so-great 5 mile hill workout outside after I got out of jury duty and got to go home early. (So happy THAT is over with!) Instead of running, I went home to mom and I spent the weekend relaxing and off my foot, happy but a little stressed about my training.

When I returned to Boston on Monday, I mentally and physically prepped myself for a solo 18 mile run. . . and I did it. Miles 1-3 were okay with the exception of a bitter wind in my face. Boston Marathon training gives you a whole new appreciation for spring. I am just about all set with cold, whipping winds!

After mile 3, the run went downhill (though technically it didn’t as I ran the Beacon Street part of the course, where there were plenty of up hills!). I felt a jarring, throbbing pain in the side of my foot. I kept running. There was some walking involved and even a bit of hobbling, I made it to my 9.1 mile mark, all the while thinking about getting on the train and going home. It was then that I saw a familiar orange ski jacket up ahead. My husband knew my route, and he had driven to my halfway point with a snack and a drink for me. How sweet is that? It  saved the run, made me feel totally supported, and kept me going as I turned around and headed home.

Every step was a struggle, and fast forward two days later and I am in bed with ice on my foot. It hurts big time, and I have had to revise any sort of activity this week, including walking around my office.

So this is where the mental part kicks in. I am used to a certain amount of training each week, and I know that training needs to intensify for about another month before I start tapering.

My plan is to give the foot a couple of days and then to return to non impact cardio like spinning and to increase the intensity of my upper body workouts, then to try running again mid next week. In the meantime, managing the mental effects of an injury will be my top priority. . .

I would love to hear from you all how you deal with the mental aspect of being injured/working too much/traveling whatever keeps you from working out the way you are used to.

Even though my training has taken a slight pause, my fundraising for The ALLY Foundation is as important as ever! I have a bunch of great raffle prizes, so there are many chances to win, just a $10 donation per entry here:

http://firstgiving.com/meghanmalloyteamally