Freethinker ~ Freerunner

Goal pace: 8:34 per mile.

Average: 8:24 per mile 

70 degrees with light breeze and sunny.  

The Oklahoma City Marathon is now only two weeks away.  I think I need to start running earlier in the day because I think the heat is affecting my times.

I really have begun tapering this week.  I was only scheduled to run 5 miles, but that felt so unbelievably short that I tacked on another mile. 

Goal pace: 8:34 per mile.

Average pace:  7:47

Splits:

7:30

7:44

7:59

7:59

7:35

7:58

I was scheduled to run 5 miles today with 3 at a 7:11 pace.  

I made it to 3 and a half miles and I was feeling great.  I was running a solid 6:50 pace, when suddenly and from out of nowhere my left food came crashing down on a rock.  It was dark by this point.  When I left my house the sun had just set, but by time I reached the street with the rock I was pretty dark.   I was running my normal neighborhood course that I have run hundreds of times even at night.    

I limped home unable to complete the 5 miles.  I was unable to walk the rest of the night and my ankle became quite swollen.  I hope it only stretched the ligaments a little bit. 

I have 9 days until the Oklahoma City marathon (my first marathon). 

After getting over the psychological blow, I am now focusing on healing.  At best I realize that I will probably have to miss the final 4 or 5 scheduled training runs.  At worst I won't be able to run in the marathon.  I hope I am healed up enough by the time race day comes. 

I've been running for 9 years and never been injured.  To sprain my ankle 9 days before my first marathon has been devastating. 

I'm trying to stay positive and utilize the R.I.C.E. technique to heal up as quickly as possible.