Monday, June 8, 2015

It Wasn't Good.

I survived my second 37k run on Saturday.

Word selection is very important in that sentence. I chose 'survived' deliberately because it really wasn't a great run. Actually that's not totally true - the first 30k were fine. It's the last 7 (which was closer to 8) that scared me. They weren't good.

ITBFS. No Mum, that's not secret swearing - although it can bring on actual verbal swearing. Iliotibial band friction syndrome. I've had it before. When I was training for my first half marathon. I felt the first niggles at around the 30k mark. That tightening on the outside of my left knee. The twinges of pain. It had me out of action for a couple of weeks the first time and I do not have a couple of weeks at this stage of training.

Stupidly though, I didn't cut the run short. I could have. I could have turned off a few kilometres before the end and maybe cut the run down to 33k. 25 minutes or so less pain. But in my head I'd woken up that morning to run 37k and I couldn't fathom running less than that.

Then I spent the rest of the day stretching and rolling and sitting on a tennis ball. They helped a little but it wasn't until I'd really tortured myself with a dumbbell that I got real relief. There's nothing quite like sitting on an unforgiving piece of metal to make sore, tight muscles bend into submission. It's exquisitely painful but oh, so effective.

I managed to get through the speed session this morning. I spent the whole time thinking about my ITB. Wondering if it was tightening up. Wondering if the pain was going to return. Wondering whether I'd be able to do my other scheduled sessions for this week. Wondering about next Saturday's last 37k run. But it seemed to hold its own. No tightening. No pain. Tentative hope that it was just an aberration.

Tomorrow I'll test it out on a 16k tempo-ish run. Then I head to the physio so he can torture me a little bit more.

I must be a masochist. All of this pain and discomfort so I can run 42.2k - which is really just an exaggeration of the pain and discomfort that I'm already feeling. Luckily I hang out with people who think that this is all quite normal or else I'd think I was crazy. Or crazier that I already know I am.

In other news. One of my younger sisters turns 50 today. Happy Birthday Fiona!

It was all well and good accepting turning 50 myself but having your younger siblings do it is a bit of a reality check. I'm not sure how it's going to be when my youngest one gets there. But that's not for another 6 years so I'll deal with it then.

I'm really pleased with how her cake turned out apart from one very small detail. I learnt that Persian fairy floss is best added to the cake just before it's served. It melted away overnight.


And because I didn't want the Queen to feel like she'd been left out, I made her a cake too.  I know it wasn't actually her birthday yesterday but if that's when we get the day off to celebrate then that's when she gets her cake.



She hasn't turned up for her slice yet. Let's hope she comes soon or there won't be any left.

15 comments:

  1. Those cakes are just phenomenal! Glad there's no lasting damage from continuing to run on after (even YOU say) you should have stopped last Saturday.

    Hope it continues to improve and doesn't impact on your next runs. xx

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  2. Tell that ornery ITB to behave. Lovely cakes, as always.

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  3. Crossing my fingers that your IT band was just mildly complaining, and that the pain won't return.

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  4. My sister-in-law is turning 40 this weekend and there will be cake... BUT i'm away for a long weekend what bad timing!

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  5. You did not make those cakes! What??? They are out of this world. I saw that Persian stuff on your FB post and wondered what it was. Do you realise how talented you are Char? Were you a professional cake maker at one stage? I've never seen anything like your cakes!

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    1. That's really flattering Michelle but, no I've never been a pro. Just an enthusiastic amateur who likes to copy. Instagram and YouTube taught me everything I know.

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  6. Keeping my fingers crossed that the ITB issue was just a one time issue. You are a really strong woman to just continue, admiration here!

    And you are such a great baker! I even showed that photo from Instagram to the hub, so impressed was I with it.

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  7. ITB can be a real pain in the butt. Let's hope it doesn't bother you again. Now I need to get rid of all the crap I've been dealing with...

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  8. I suffer from ITB issues as well, so definitely can relate. Sorry it didn't go well, but you'll be back strong in no time. Oh...and will you bake me a cake? HEHE...I don't even enjoy sweets but your cakes always look amazing.

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    1. Happy to make you a cake but I don't do deliveries. All you have to do is let me know when you want to pick it up.

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  9. Gorgeous cakes! Take care of your ITB, I hope it doesn't flare up again...

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  10. 37k run is a challenge, although it isn't a race. Don't worry about the last 7K. It's important that you did that hard session.

    Beautiful cakes, as usual! I love the green one. Is there almond custard in that cake?

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    1. No, although that's a great idea. It's a white chocolate, cream cheese frosting.

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  11. I love, love, love your cakes, Char! So beautiful! And I'm with you on the ITB issue. That was one of the few injuries that stopped me in my tracks - could not run through. So painful for such a "minor" (i.e., not a rupture or a break or a heart attack :) injury. Hate it!

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  12. I love, love, love your cakes, Char! So beautiful! And I'm with you on the ITB issue. That was one of the few injuries that stopped me in my tracks - could not run through. So painful for such a "minor" (i.e., not a rupture or a break or a heart attack :) injury. Hate it!

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