The Big Taper

So Taperingsnuck up on me.  Here is where you feel like you did everything wrong, like you are now coasting, where you start to get nervous, where you wonder where all the time went!  I am hoping for a sub 330 time.  I recently blogged that I may even break the Boston Marathon qualifying time.  My mistake, I think I was looking at the wrong sex or something, because i would have to shave off 15 minutes off my best time of my long run to accomplish that.  Unlikely.  O well, what was I expecting??? My age bracket for that would be 3:15.

I will be running for 40 % of my longest run this week, and then I will be in full rest!  Crazy.  Any advice for this taper from the experienced marathoners.  One thing I am nervous about is that last year, there was a cold snap for my half, and i got too cold to wear what i usually wore.  If i have to wear long sleeved, it will not be good as I will probably chaff!  Hmmm.
Also, an update on my arse (gluteus minimus), it is going well.  I used my foam roller after my last long run as I felt it tightening up.  It felt better after , with some stretching.  Seems my running technique having changed ( I am using shorter strides when i accelerate more often) has helped ward off this problem for the summer!

Chiropractor Visitation

Well, I am going beforemy medical benefits run out next week to my chiropractor.  He  is a good guy. But he will most likely cause me pain today.    And I will hate him for a short time And then he will hint strongly that my running will produce scar tissue from multiple injury.  But the thing is, I am not injured, I am trying to prevent this.  My hip pain and tenderness continues, but it has held out as just that, not getting any worse.  I am finally letting my body try to just recoup so that I can tackle my Skaha lake loop dream for the summer.

UPDATE: June 22
Went yesterday after work and got a green light from my friend the chiro.  He was pleased with my exterior rotators (I have previously posted some of the stretches I have been trying to loosen up).  Also the stiffness was tight in a slightly different area, VERY PAINFUL spots where he drive his elbow in and made me shine in sweat.  However, I am still able to run!  This means I am taking care in a preventative rather than reactive way, which was my goal.

Gluteus Minimus Sore

Due for a long runjust now, but as I crept down the stairs I felt an ache in my glute.  Went to the chiropractor a few weeks ago and he diagnosed something different to do with my gluteus minimus this time.  I will be taking it easy and stretching and foam rolling.  He noted by hips and rotators were limited in range of motion.  I want to avoid prerace injury so I will be visiting him again.
Here it is:

IM BACK, BABY!

After threeweeks of healing, my muscles have been feeing that "I'm ready to get back to work" feeling. The injury seems to have gotten healed to the point of being able to run on it again. I tried to hold back a bit for my first run back. It was only slightly tight in my right glute. So happy to be back running. It was euphoric, to say the least. 8 km was where I capped myself, just to be safe. Since then I ran a 10 k an i am hoping to do 18 km for my longer run tomorrow. I as going to go today, but I have a lost of things to get done as we are leaving for vacation this week, and felt being in the car all day tomorrow will be reason to do a long run. I am also laying down patio bricks at my mothers and feel the amount of leg and glute strain is enough for today and yesterday.

2.5 weeks of a pain in the ... HEE HAW

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Well, my marathon training has now been bitten into. My muscles are continuing to give me grief, cross training is still the only way i can get out and about. I went for a trial run two days ago, but felt the discomfort growing in my injury, so I stopped it and made an appointment with my chiropractor.
Seems I have a secondary injury now in my buttock. My gluteus minimus is tight and injured. Ice rest and stretching. I will try in about a cup of coffee today to go for a run, but my guess is the injury will stop me again and I will need to grab my bike again.
With the kind of year I have had, this really does not surprise me, that I am injured, preventing me from the only outlet I have for personal time. I even got a flat tire last outing on my bike!
What this means for my marathon come October, i really don't know. I was ahead of Yasso's plan, so i will have to see.
UPDATE: 1 Hour Later: I went for another trial run. Got further than last time. It is definitely a different injury now. Right in my higher side. Dang. I had to stop since the discomfort was growing to where I couldn't maintain proper running form.
Rule followed in running: if the pain is changing your form or gait, STOP IMMEDIATELY.

POST NOTE:
A very informative podcast to refer to when injured comes from this blog called Runners Roundtable. It has the info I refer to through the resources I have found on injury assessment, treatment, and prevention. The audio is a bit sketchy, but it has experienced runners talking about their various injuries from running. Enjoy!
So..

• For Piriformis Syndrome Pain
• For Gluteus Minimus stretching

I will post more as I learn more about this new ailment. Until then, I am still a pain in the ass.
I Have a Chiro appointment today. Who, by the way, tried to kill me last week in treatment. Brandt, you know you're wonderful, but those tears were real.