Week 28 Weekly Summary: Discomfort

I felt the twinge maybe Tuesday, but for sure on Wednesday's ride. There's some discomfort in the outside section of my left knee. I cut off the bike on Wednesday, and didn't go out the planned brick run. I iced and rested it instead. Thursday morning, I got up and tested it running. No pain whatsoever. I think that with another two days rest, I'll be set for Saturday's planned ride of the entire 112 mile bike course. Saturday morning dawns, I'm up with sun, making final preparations for the seven hour ride. Within five minutes of leaving the house, the discomfort emerges, and I say a few choice words, and turn back towards home. I sulked in bed all morning, distraught with what my options are from here. I could rest for a week and see how it feels. No doctor visit. I could see the sports med doctor Monday, and see what they say. Most likely it'll be to rest, but they'll know more about my options for The Big Day. They're triathletes, and know how important this training is. Let's hope they have time to see me.

I may have pressed my luck with today's run, but it absolutely gives me no discomfort to do so. So I ran for thirteen miles, trying out my new plan for the run. I hope to run a faster pace for fifteen minutes, then walk for five. Doing so will hopefully allow me to maintain a faster overall pace throughout, and finish with a respectible marathon time. Today, it worked in 85°F sun. I finished one loop in 2:16. (Compared with my PR of 1:55 at the Mad-City half marathon.) I sucked down lots of Gatorade, three GUs, and two endurolyte caps, and still ended up a touch on the sore side. But that's nothing that Ben & Jerry's can't fix.

This weeks totals are behind expectations because of Saturday's aborted ride. I'm expecting this week to be low, too. We'll see what the doctor says. I just may have started my taper two weeks early. I've also started swimming in Lake Monona, so the swim times may be just a touch off. I keep forgetting to bring my watch.