January 2008 - I decided to run the London Marathon in the following Spring. The next 15 months were a roller-coaster ride of injury! Increases in my fitness were interspersed with long lay-offs. Basically I trained too hard and did too much road running causing all sorts of problems with tendinopathy of my quad tendons in both left and right knees and pain right on my right knee. The start of 2009 was pretty good but one hard, fast run in the dark, in the cold, in the rain, in mid March saw it all flare up. I struggled on and still ran the marathon, firstly because it was a goal I was desperate to achieve and secondly because I had gathered pledges and donations worth nearly £3000 for Oxfam. In an attempt to clear the injury I had never run further than 16 miles and had not run at all in the 6 weeks before the Marathon. It nearly worked and, by the big day, I could walk, ascend, and descend stairs without pain – but running still hurt.
So here's the thing – it was still one of the most amazing days of my life! Yes my knee hurt. Yes I wasn't fit enough. Yes it was a real struggle to get round. But I still got a time I was pleased with and the sounds, colours and crazy thin
gs I saw will stay with me forever. The relief of stoping after 4 hrs 16 mins and 3 secs of running was enormous and the sense of achievement is huge. Perhaps having to dig that deep (I never walked despite how tired and sore I was) has changed me a bit inside as well?
Of course afterwards, and the next day (in fact week) my legs (and feet and arms, and stomach and lungs!) were sore – but it was worth it and I'd make the same choice again any time. Before the Marathon I knew that I was letting myself in for a huge relapse with my right knee and, sure enough, it was extremely painful the day after and only marginally less painful now, a few days later.
Going into the marathon my plan was to achieve that goal and then take the time out from exercise to really sort out my knee. To rest, rest, rest until pain free and then work back in incredibly carefully. I am guessing this will take something like three months – but I don't really know. I am expecting it to be a bumpy road with slow progress and lots of disappointment. I am hoping that keeping a blog will give me an outlet for that frustration but also, hopefully, let me look back and see the progress I am making. I'll try and collate hints, tips, links etc. - I've a fair few already from the last year believe me! Perhaps this blog will also be useful to other people with knee problems.....
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