It’s been a VERY long time since I’ve sat down to write a blog post. If you’ve been following me on Instagram (@Running.on.Carbs) you know that I recently started a podcast and have expanded into run coaching for plant-based women. So, a lot of my story that would have been here, has been shared on the podcast instead.
However, there is something to be said about the written word and storytelling. So, here I am sharing the next chapter of my running journey with you in this format. I hope you’ll stick around and follow me along this next path.
What happened after the marathon?
My original intention for this blog was to share my first marathon training journey. I blogged every day about my runs, my travels, my nutrition and the eventual race; the Surf City Marathon in Huntington Beach, California.
After the race, I followed a conservative recovery plan. I didn’t plan to run for two weeks, which turned out to be a good strategy.
Initially, I felt pretty darn good after returning home from the race. However, after returning to work I began to feel a lot of pain on the top, front of my left ankle. It got so painful that it was hard to walk for several days. Thankfully, it did not last too long and began to dissipate without the need for medical care.
During this two week non-running time I did P90X and X2 workouts for active recovery. Then, I started a 7-week 5k training plan to prep for the Carlsbad 5000, where I ran a PR (personal record) in the 5k distance.
I continued to supplement in strength workouts and running 4 to 5 times per week and I was feeling really strong after the 5k..
In June 2023 I ran the San Diego Rock n Roll Half Marathon and ran another PR in my half marathon. Everything seemed to be going swimmingly…until it didn’t.
What went wrong?
It’s important to note that all during my marathon training and following it, I had a lot of right hamstring stiffness and pain. The pain would usually dissipate or go away while running but return after I was done. I would need to stand up to eat my meals following a long run and even short car rides caused nerve pain to shoot down my leg and into my foot.
After the marathon I went to physical therapy and it was determined my pain was stemming from my low back. By the time I ran the half marathon in June my physical therapist determined that he was no longer able to help me and referred me to a pain specialist physician.
It took me a couple of weeks to decide if I wanted to go to the specialist and eventually decided to set the appointment. It was fateful timing.
About 5 weeks into my 2nd marathon training plan I developed hip flexor pain in my right leg; the same side I was experiencing hamstring pain. It got so bad that I was not able to walk without holding onto furniture or walls in the house.
My appointment with the pain specialist was the following week, so I figured all I had to do was get to that appointment and it would get resolved.
It didn’t.
Several MRI’s and x-rays later over a 9 week course of time I was eventually, and finally, diagnosed with a femoral neck stress fracture in my right hip.
If you are interested in hearing the full story, I shared it in episode 8, (A setback is a setup for a comeback: Journey back to running after femoral neck stress fracture) on the Running on Carbs Podcast.
The diagnosis led to another 9 weeks on crutches; a grueling, frustrating and difficult living situation. Crutches are awful and everything takes three times as long as normal. Just getting from one end of the kitchen to the other takes multiple processes and God-forbid you have to carry something!
Needless to say, my marathon training days were over. I had several races scheduled and paid for that I ended up losing during this time. I was able to defer the marathon to 2024. However, my healing was delayed by a secondary finding in one of my follow up MRI’s which threw off my return to run schedule by a full three months. Probably for the best as I reflect on it all.
Where am I now and what’s next?
I was cleared to run in April 2024 and have been returning to running in a very slow, progressive manner. I started with run-walk-run intervals and only easy pace runs. I took this opportunity to work on zone 2 heart rate training which has also helped me rebuild my cardiovascular strength.
Up to this point I have been running just to run and build back fitness but I’m mentally ready to start training again. Therefore, I’ve set my sights on a November (or December) half marathon!
I’m currently running around 14 miles per week with a 7 mile long run. I’ve been doing this for a month now, so I’m confident my body can handle this amount of miles to begin with. My strategy is to start the training plan but with the knowledge that if I start to have pain I will back off and delay the race. Therefore, I am NOT registering for anything until I know I can get to the start line healthy.
What is the training plan?
Although I’ve been running again for about 4 months, I am still not ready to add back in any speed work. Bodies work on their own timeline, not what we want them to do. I realize that if I want to continue running at all, I need to work at my body’s pace and not my mind’s.
I’m at the point where my mileage is comfortable and I want to start training for longer distances. Currently, I’m running three days a week, but I’d like to increase that to four days to see how I feel. Rather than cramming those miles into longer runs, I’m spreading them out over 4 days a week. This will mean that I’m adding in a consecutive day of running, which will be new to me since my injury.
I developed a training plan called “Get me to the Finish Line” (available on my FinalSurge plans page) which was specifically written for newer runners that want to run a half marathon without a pace goal. So, I’ve decided to follow that plan.
The plan incorporates 4 days of running, 2 days of strength training and 2 rest days each week. All of the runs are done at RPE 4 (rate of perceived exertion). There are no fancy runs. No tempo, threshold, fartlek or intervals. Just easy effort to ease the body into longer distances and consecutive run days.
So that is what’s next for me!
I’m bringing back the blog because I want to share this journey with other runners who are returning to running or just starting out.
As with my marathon training, I don’t expect every day to be a 10 out of 10, but I’m hoping and working to stay healthy and strong so I can get to that 13.1 finish line.
Wish me luck and I hope you’ll join me on my adventure!