Did the Fort Ben Half Marathon out in Indianapolis today. I had serious leg problems - after about 2.5 miles my left quad started spasming. This slowed me down from 5:00 pace to around 5:30. For a little bit, I was worried that I'd have to DNF. Fortunately, things stabilized and I was able to limp in at a 5:29 average pace - and even pass someone in the last few miles to come in at 4th place.
While this race definitely didn't turn out how I'd hoped, it gave some good insight into what is going on with my lower back/legs. For whatever reason, the left quad ends up doing more than its fair share of work - until it gives out. This problem must have worsened since I've been in Texas - because the blow-up was a lot more dramatic than in Des News or Utah Valley. It also came after less than 3 miles instead of 6.
I'm going to try physical therapy again - hopefully between that and whatever exercises I can figure out on my own I'll be able to avoid a blow-up at Monumental. Definitely glad I did this race as a trial run.
Total of 16 or so with the warm-up and cool-down.
|