It all started soon after the Skyline 50k in mid-August. This was my third 50k race and I knew that it would be my fastest since there was just under 5k feet of climbing (compared with Ohlone containing almost 8k feet, and Golden Gate having over 6k feet.) Burnout Bear and I were feeling positive and ready to set a challenging goal: run the 50k in under 5 hours. The course was an out and back starting at Lake Chabot in Castro Valley and turning around at Skyline Gate in Oakland. The morning of the race was cool (around 60 degrees) and the environment was very relaxed; so relaxed that we actually didn't hear the start and just saw the mass of people starting to run down the trail, so we joined in. The aid stations had some of the most friendly volunteers I have ever experienced and they called us by name as we arrived. (I guess they had a sheet with the names and numbers of all runners.) This really added a personal, comforting touch to the race. Burnout Bear took off fast from the start and I could not keep up with him. I kept as brisk a pace as I could, however, because I really wanted to break 5 hours. I kept looking up at the sun to gauge what time it was since I don't wear a digital watch or GPS when I run. There were some nasty climbs on the way out to Skyline Gate in Redwood Park, though. I tried to keep a steady pace and jog as many of the climbs as possible, with the exception of a few steep ones which I speed hiked. On the way back, as I was nearing Lake Chabot, the sun was almost directly overhead and I knew that 5 hours was approaching since we had started at 7am. I pushed it as hard as I could along the windy trail leading back around Lake Chabot and I spotted Burnout Bear at the last aid station. Apparently, he lived up to his name and went out a little too fast this time. He was feeling beat and told me to run ahead, so I did. I ended up not making my goal of under 5 hours and came in 5 minutes too late! Burnout bear came in another few minutes after that. It was disappointing to miss a goal by only 5 minutes after running for 5 hours, but I was content that at least I came close. Plus, we managed to beat Dean Karnazes, who we didn't realize was running until we saw him cross the finish. I was hoping to introduce myself and say hello, but unfortunately he left very soon after finishing.
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| Turtle crossing the finish. |
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| Burnout Bear happily crossing the finish. |
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| We were there to see Dean Karnazes cross the finish! |
The week after the Skyline 50k, I was a bit sore but managed to jog/walk 3 or 4 miles a few times. I had to get back into training for my biggest race of the year: the Firetrails 50 in October! The following Saturday, I volunteered at Coastal Trail Runs' Cinderella race and that is where the pain began. I was helping at an aid station for 5 hours and was standing the entire time. Then, I had to sweep 11 miles of the course and for some reason I felt a sharp pain on the outside of my left knee about 6 miles into it. I had to walk the rest of the way. I think the combination of standing for an extended period of time and then running 11 hilly miles less than a week after the 50k really set something off, but I wasn't sure what it was at the time.
I went to the doctor and she said that she was certain it was Illiotibial band syndrome (ITBS). She scheduled me for physical therapy and sent me home. The physical therapist then confirmed that it was ITBS and sent me home with rolling and strengthening exercises. The goal was to stretch out the ITB and strengthen my outer hip and thigh region. I rolled and completed my exercises rigorously, determined to loosen my ITB as quickly as possible. I had the biggest race of my season approaching! I didn't have much time to prepare for 50 miles as it was, let alone with an injury in the way.
I became frustrated when my knee pain still appeared less than one mile into a run after a full week of resting; and this cycle continued for several weeks! My knee pain was not improving at all. I became frustrated and a friend from the Mission Peak Striders recommended a sports chiropractor. Even though I had to pay out-of-pocket, it was definitely worth it because the chiropractor realized that my pain was not due to my ITB, but due to a strained, outer hamstring muscle. This muscle lies right next to the ITB, so the tightness in that location can commonly be mistaken for ITBS. I am now following a new regimen of exercises and stretches and should hopefully see improvement in a couple of weeks, according to my confident chiropractor... let's see! I am also busy cycling at the gym and keeping my strength up with weights and ashtanga yoga so that I am prepared to run again when the injury finally subsides (soon, hopefully!)
Sadly, I won't be able to run my biggest race of the year: the Firetrails 50. This also means that I won't be able to qualify for Western States in 2013. I am very depressed about all of this, but am trying to keep my spirits up and look ahead to what's next... maybe the North Face Endurance Challenge in December? I certainly wouldn't bet on it, but there's still a teeny tiny chance if I'm lucky...
