This was my third half marathon. I have run the Waddell and Reed half marathon since 2009, and have loved it every time. However, I have been injured the past two years after the run, and had to lay off running for about 6 months each time. The first year it was my achilles tendon that troubled me; last year it was my iliotibial band. This year I was determined to be injury free.
Around mile 8 I noticed that familiar, hateful ache on the outside of my left knee. The iliotibial bandit was rearing his ugly head. I slowed down a bit, and tried to focus on my form in an effort to thwart further injury. I finished the race feeling good, no ache in my leg and a PR of 1:49:51.
But alas, as I sit here Sunday evening, I am sulking over not being able to do a cool down run today. My attempted 4 miles was cut short at less than half a mile, and I sent myself back limping home.
So instead of running, I am icing, and stretching, and doing some iliotibial band (IT band for short) specific leg exercises. I cannot be laid up again for 6 months with a bum leg. I will simply not allow it. Furthermore, I am already signed up for a 5k next weekend! I am not sure how or why I have started to develop injuries after almost fifteen years of running, off and on, mostly on. It's NOT because I am starting to get old, don't even think that! I'm not even thirty yet! And there are plenty of other runners that never get injured! There has to be a reason. My focus is to find the reason and prevent it from ever happening.
Alright I am off to stretch some more and down an NSAID before bed. Hey, that was a rhyme!
I was Bib # 4168. Race results at http://onlineraceresults.com/race/view_race.php?race_id=22380#racetop).
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