Frustrated

That's what I needed today, a little Amanda Carting.

I was really hoping for a good run today after last Sunday's running disaster, but no such luck. We all met at Gina's apartment at 8:30am, and I was planning on doing 16 miles. I started out feeling optimistic, because I felt so good on Tuesday night. Well, 3 miles in a felt a twinge in my problem leg. I took Advil this morning, so I was hoping it would stay just mild.

Nope! It got worse. We crossed the Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan and we were running up the West Side Highway, when Maria suggested that we stop, stretch, & eat soon. I was so happy to hear that, and I said "How about now?" We were at Chelsea Piers, which was about 6 miles into our run.

As soon as I stopped, I regretted it. My leg seized up, and it hurt to start running again. I tried a few times, but I knew it was a lost cause. I walked until I hit 42nd street, and then I walked over to the subway.

I had to take the train all the way back to Gina's place in Brooklyn where I had left my coat and purse. Gina's husband got us bagels again, which was super nice of him. I happily wolfed one down. Walking down the stairs of their building wasn't fun, but it wasn't as bad as the subway stairs last week. I'm hoping that stopping running was a good thing, and maybe I will heal faster.

I saw this on my way back to the subway to go home. It made me laugh, especially in the state that I was in. I wish the Amanda Carting service could have picked me up on the West Side Highway...


I went straight to a shoe store when I got back into Manhattan to look at shoes to correct the pronating that my right foot does. I know that it turns in a little when I run, and that could be what is causing the pain (or I could just be unlucky - it is a really common injury in long distance runners). I tried on a few pairs of shoes and ran on the treadmill on them.

Of course, there is no way I could pick out a shoe while running in pain. I'm not really sure what I was thinking. After trying on 3 pairs I decided this was a silly idea. So I went home and iced my legs in an ice bath. I think I cheated a little too much with the lukewarm water, because it didn't feel as cold as in past weeks.

My friend John (who is training for the NJ marathon on his own) called me this afternoon and said that he was having some knee pain. He knew that I had been also, and it sounds like he has the exact same experience today. He was going to do a long run and had to abort it half way through.

It is really frustrating. I'm hoping that a week or two of good rest and a lot of ice will help. I'm determined to run this thing!