Week 5 Key Run #1

Well the inevitable finally happened - I appear to have a full blown IT band problem. Today I completed the following workout:

• 20 minute warm-up
• 4 strides
• 6 x 800m with 90 seconds RI between each (goal pace 4'03" per 800)
• Walked home instead of running

Total of 5.5 miles with average 10'30" pace including the RIs but not the walk home. Why did I walk home? Well upon completing my last interval and jogging out of the track, my IT band started to bother me above my knee. This is the same place where it hurt a lot last night when I was rolling it. I knew my IT band was angry because of my TFL issues, but I'm hoping maybe I was just too exuberant with the stick last night. I am currently icing it and have taken some acetaminophen. Also considering revising my training plan.

Kaiser is in under two weeks, and I hadn't been planning to taper because I am following the marathon training schedule. However, I am hoping to PR at Kaiser and I have no time goals for my first marathon (although I am training according to a time goal), so I am thinking I will at least do a modified taper. This should help me be ready for Kaiser and give me a nice little mileage reduction to help my IT band.

I'm also hoping to use my week off to employ my Groupon for accupuncture (surely that will help IT right?) and possibly go back to my bodywork specialist. Anyway, I'm staying positive and hoping I can work through this. I often have random pains in my body and they don't usually stick around too long (fingers crossed).

Track workout was pretty good though. I have three pace points during my intervals: In my 2nd and 6th intervals I was running around 8'14" (good), but in my 4th I was at 8'46" (bad). I was on the up top jogging track during that interval so I could run the opposite direction and I always have trouble holding my pace on that. At any rate, I mostly kept to my goal paces, and I felt pretty good all around. Now if I can just get this leg going again!