Hey everyone! I
wanted to write an update to tell you about my last race and let you know my race
schedule for this coming spring.
Race Report: On February 15th, I ran in the 26.2 with Donna
Marathon in Jacksonville, FL. I was
leading a pack of the top women at 6 miles when we had to transition from the
road to the beach for a 2 mile stretch.
I twisted my ankle in the soft sand during the transition and tweaked my
Achilles, but I was able to get back going and stayed right in the lead pack of
women for the 2 mile stretch on the beach, hoping that my Achilles would feel
better when got back on the road at 8 miles.
As we transitioned from the beach to the road we again had to run through
another section of soft sand and once again the sand gave way under my foot and
I twisted my ankle again and this time significantly strained my Achilles. I tried to walk it off again but couldn’t place
any weight on it so had to withdraw from the race. I was devastated, as I was feeling good until
that point and excited about being out in a competitive race and leading the pack. I also really loved everything else about the
race including meeting Donna and all the great people associated with the race,
doing a social group run on Friday with Joan Benoit Samuelson and meeting and hanging
with some great fellow marathoners. I also greatly appreciate the race's hospitality while I was there. Great people associated with this race.
Achilles Update:
I got lucky, it was just an Achilles strain and not a tear as I first
feared. I was able to get into and see
my expert team at Carolina Sports Clinic on Monday and they confirmed the strain
and no sign of a tear (had full strength still). They worked on the Achilles and I took the
next 4 days off and treated the Achilles with contrast baths, rolling, and
light stretching exercises multiple times per day. It worked as by Friday I was pain fee and able
to do some light jogging and ran easy over the weekend. On Monday, I went back to CSC for some more
work and dry needling to get the rest of the junk out the area. As of today I am feeling back to 100% normal
but will wait until next week before I try to do any quality running on
it. I 100% recommend that any athletes,
especially runners and triathletes in the Charlotte area, to go see Josh, Brad
and Leah and the rest of the staff at Carolina Sports Clinic if they have any
injuries or issues. They have really
been there for me this last year whenever I’ve had any aches and pains along
the way.
Schedule Update: Ok
so I have spent the last 2 weeks planning out my schedule for the next few
months until my next marathon and here is what I tentatively have planned.
April 25th :
Kentucky Derby Festival Mini-Marathon (Half Marathon) – Louisville, KY
May 17th :
Rite-Aid Cleveland 10k – Cleveland, OH
June 20th :
Grandma’s Marathon – Duluth, MN
So a 10k’s, a half marathon, and a marathon and possible 1 or 2 smaller races I might use as training. Hoping to take my PR’s down some in each if
weather and training cooperate. Excited
to run a 10k’s again to get my speed on and keep marathon pace feeling
easier. :)
Happy Running!
Alana
