I am proud to report that I have completed half marathon number 4!
This race was the Chilly Half Marathon in Burlington, Ontario. The weather was nice: some sun, little wind, the roads were dry, and the temp was sitting around -6c. The course was two out and backs in two different directions, forming a loop. It stayed along Lakeshore Drive on Lake Ontario, with mansions sheltering us from the wind of the shore. It was a good sized race: about 3000 participants in the half. Not too big, but not too small.
I was running with a couple of friends from the Running Room, and nearly all of our clinic was there. SO fantastic to have so many people for support and encouragement, and friendship!
My running partner C and I decided to do 8:3 intervals as that had worked so well in training. 'I' joined us, but H stuck to her 10:1s. I was running really well, and wanted to get a sub 2:45 finish. My running portions were consistently 7:15 (11:30mm) until kilometer 17. My walking portions were at 10:00/km (16mm). I would have been close to 2:45, and really close to a PR (1:47:56) I worked through a few issues, and was down to the last 4 intervals when my left ankle started to hurt.
At 40 and overweight I often experience discomfort or pain when I run but I can usually walk it out or carry on and expect it to disappear within the kilometer. I push through pain and carry-on.
Not this time. It hurt so significantly when I ran. Walking was strangely ok. My legs started to cramp as well - like super bad. Like full-on complete muscle spasms in my calves, quads AND hamstrings. I can run through that, but not the ankle pain.
So I walked the last 3k after repeatedly trying to get started running over the 17th kilometer but unable to do so due to the pain being immediate.
I finished at 2:58:10. Not thrilled with that, but I will take the finish!
I am RICEing the ankle. I think today that it is soft tissue. Today it is worse with rest. I think it is ligament between my foot and lower leg near the tibia. I can barely flex my foot and doing so causes intense bruise-y pain. I went downstairs for a coffee this morning and really landed hard on each step: no pain! So weight-bearing is no problem. No bruising or swelling. I have called the sports med place I go to so hopefully I can get seen and have it diagnosed.
Here are some pics! The first one is me with my friend H who trained so well and completed her first half this day! The second is me after the finished. My tights are up on the side that I injured because the med tent put ice on it for me after the race. The third is the so-so medal. Disney has spoiled me for medals. I like the ribbon on this one, but the medal itself is blah. The awards medals were really nice but I'm not currently capable of that!