About Me

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Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Trying to reach my full potential as a masters runner

Thursday, June 23, 2011

I'm back!

Hey bloggers, it's me...I'm still here!

It's been just over a month since my last post. That was just prior to the ING Ottawa Half Marathon. At the time I was nursing a hamstring injury an shooting for a 1:30 finish time. In hindsight that was very optimistic.

While the hamstring was feeling better in the days leading up to the race, I hadn't been able to train as hard as I should to turn in a 1:30 or better time. On race day I warmed up great and started off strong, on pace through the first 7k. Then it all went wrong. My hamstring started to get tight and by the 8k point it was feeling just like my left hamstring had before going into spasm and tearing in March 2010.

So I slowed down and actually walked for a bit and tried to stretch it out. I got going again, but when I tried to get up to the pace I needed to run for my goal time, I would get a sharp pain in my right leg. By the 13k mark I decided to listen to my body and bail. I was very disappointed as it was the first race I started, but didn't finish. However, in hindsight it was a smart thing to do.

So the last month I've been rehabbing the hamstring and a sore lower back, related to the hamstring. Ian has me doing very easy runs. We're in maintenance mode until August when things will ramp up for NYC.

The leg and back are feeling good today and I'll be getting out for an easy run shortly. The break has also been good for me mentally. I know by August I'll be eager to get back into serious training and focused on a PR in NYC.