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I've got a 12 mile issue.

// October 11th, 2009 // Random Rantings

It’s an issue with my ankles, knees and hips.  It’s an issue that’s not really new, just different in how it’s started happening lately.  It’s a frustrating issue. It’s an issue that has me nervous about the marathon next month.  And, it’s an issue that I can’t seem to find a fix for.

Let’s back up.  In high school I injured my knees playing tennis my freshman year.  I would later come to find out that I tore both meniscus’ (the cartilage that absorbs impact in between your upper and lower leg bones) in my knees.  Throughout the rest of school the tears got worse every season as I trained for cross country and track.  After graduation, the pain got worse.  And worse.  And worse until I finally decided to undergo arthroscopic surgery for my right knee (the worst of the two).

A year after the surgery, neither one of my knees were feeling back up to being able to run competitively. The pain that previously kept me up at night was gone, but I wasn’t able to run without the pain coming back at least temporarily.  Sadly, I accepted the fact that I would never be able to run long distance again, or even compete in a short 5k.  Then I discovered the Pose Running Method.

I won’t go into a lengthy description of what the Pose Running Method is (you can check it out at the link above), but basically instead of running heal-toe, you run toe-heal. It’s forever changed how I look at running. By using the Pose Running Method, you greatly reduce the severity of the impact that comes from connecting with the ground at each step. Between learning the Pose Method, and receiving some encouragement from The Chic Runner (Thanks D!), I was not only running again, but even optimistic about running in a marathon 5 months away! My knee problems seemed to be gone for good.

Enter the 12 mile issue. At this point, I’ve got a few hundred new miles under my belt and for the most part, I feel as great as I did before I started getting knee pains early in high school. -That is, until my Garmin tells me I’ve gone 12 miles. At 12 miles, my ankles, then my knees and eventually even my hips start hurting like crazy. It’s a different pain than the meniscus and normally only lasts until I stop running and cool down. Being that I’m training for a marathon, this is a big issue. I’ve cut several key long distance runs short because the pain was just too bad to continue. On those runs, I felt like if I kept running I’d injury myself seriously.

Enter frustration. I’m running with a great running form that’s proven to reduce the stress on joints. I cross train – I mountain bike a few days a week and I get in a mile swim every Saturday. I lift weights. I run on different surfaces – dirt trails, grass, asphalt, gravel. I vary my workouts and follow a tough but not overly-demanding training schedule. I stretch regularly and even do yoga sometimes. I practically overdose on glucosamin, chondroitin and methylsulphonylmethane (MSM) to help out my cartilage.

I can sprint short distances as hard as I can and do interval workouts – no pain. I can really push myself on shorter distance runs 5 – 8 miles to wear I’m out of breath and on the verge of throwing up at the end – no pain. In longer distances greater than 10 miles, I can run a comfortable pace, slow pace or a really fast pace and no matter what – at 12 miles the pain starts in my ankles, is in my knees by mile 13 and in mile 14 my hips are starting to feel it.

What the dang heck? I know my endurance is there. On the runs I cut short, I wasn’t tired – if I hadn’t been hurting so bad, I could have finished the distance no problem. If tomorrow the pain didn’t show up, I could run the marathon and probably finish close to the time I’m training for. So, what do I do? I have about 4 weeks until the race and the last two of those weeks are for tapered workouts. So, really I’ve got 2 more Sundays (long runs) before the race.

Enter nervousness. I can’t seem to find a solution to this 12 mile issue.  And at a time when my confidence needs to be at an all time high, being nervous about whether I can even get to the finish line is frightening. I feel like I’ve come a long way since the time when I thought I would never be able to run competitively again. -But I don’t want this 12 mile issue to end my race early! If you, or any coach or experienced runner you know, has any thoughts or ideas – please share them with me! Leave me a comment below on this post and tell me what you think.

Thanks!!