Hello - 1st time marathon runner!

hey guys!

Just joined real buzz! I am running the marathon for the first time this year in aid of Mind! (close to me heart).

Training has been going well - started in Oct when I could only just manage about 1 mile and am now up to 9.5.....and now the problems have started!! 

Everytime i go out running now I get excruciating pain in my right hip :-(. Went to the ostepath last week who said my pelvis was twisted which was casuing one leg to be shhorter than the other. He has straightened me up and did some clicking and massaging and also gave me some exercises to stretch my IT band. Have not done any running this week but the plan is to do 11 miles on Sat - which I am scared about the dreaded pain coming back!!

Feeling really miserable about it :-(. Any hints, tips or general advice to keep me moptivated would be greatly appreciated. My fear is the pain will never go away so I won't be able to do it - which would be devastating as its the most important thing in the world to me right now....

Sorry to go on, hope you;re all doing good!

Caron

xx

Hi Caron and welcome to the forum.

I'm not overly surprised to hear you're in pain. To go from 1 to 9.5 miles in 4 months is, well, a lot! It sounds like you need to take a bit more rest - why not cut back on the running for a bit, maybe limit it to a few miles once or twice a week and mix in some swimming or a fitness class, or perhaps a bit of yoga to keep the muscles loose?

To train for a full marathon from scratch in less than a year is very ambitious - perhaps you will consider deferring for a year? I realise that's not the suggestion that you were hoping for but you do need to be careful. While running is very good for you it also has the ability to be very damaging in the long run.

Please take what I say with a pinch of salt - I am neither a personal trainer nor am I medically qualified. Whatever you decide, please be careful and be sure to keep in touch with the osteo, it sounds like you have picked a very good one.

Good luck and happy training!

All the best,

michael

Thanks for your reply Michael!

I totally realise its a very ambitious challenge but one I am determined to succeed at . I work for Virgin so have seen people last year (who were in worse shape than me) do it which is what gave me the bug to do it myself. I don't want to defer but understand I need to be careful and am really grateful for your concern.

I think rather than attempting 11 miles this week I am going to take it much slower and try a 2-3 mile run (almost put 203 then!!) and then try little and often and definitely ease of the running but incorporate some more swimming and classes to keep my cardiovasuclar strength up to speed. I have been doing classes actually already but haven't tried yoga so may enquire about that.

Thanks so much for your help

Caron

It sounds like you know what you want to do which is fantastic.

Just be sure to stretch stretch stretch! Look after those muscles! If you've a few quid to spare in your budget, a massage is fantastic.

Please be sure to keep us up to date with your progress.

Regards,

Michael

yes im sure u wil recover real fast as if and whe u get back to ure running seriously again u just have to build up gradual again .yes a good sports massage wont go a miss take things easy ........malc

Sports massages are a miracle cure I think! Gradual training is also the key too

Hi Caron

I learnt the hard way - I was a complete non runner last January and started on couch to 5k programme - couldnt even run a mile first day but I went too far too fast and ran a 10k in May followed by half marathon in September -which resulted in plantar fasciitis injury.  After recovering I am now building up slowly as I am running in the marathon too in April.  Like you I saw people of my size/shape/age and thought if they can do it so can I. 

Good luck with your training and get a massage - I have been having physio/massages regularly now and they are brilliant

Hi Caron,

I'm running the London marathon on behalf of Mind, too!

Good luck with your training - definitely give sports massages a go, or if this is too expensive, try a foam roller - they really help!

Like everyone has said, too far too quickly can really hinder you in the long run if you pick up a bad injury, so be careful!