[QuixoticNotions]

Okay, I'm submitting myself once again to the collective wisdom of the PRT. (Yeah, I know, I'm a friggin one man reality show here. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Very Happy"> Phone in your votes now!)<br><br>
7 days from today is the Chickamauga Marathon. I've been signed up all year long. It is where I did my first marathon a year ago, and is a fairly flat course. (Not completely, but one of the flattest courses I've seen in Northern GA-- ever.)<br>
Lately during runs, I've been having knee pain - Illitibial band syndrome (please read as if that was the correct spelling. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Very Happy">) -- right knee. Now, the knee pain is worse when I'm 1. driving or 2. at work on the concrete floors I have to walk around on--- but it certainly has reared its head during running. That includes during my longer training runs-- curtailing my efforts.<br>
The doctor said I can do any running as long as I stop as soon as my knee starts hurting. He said I could run the marathon if I wanted, but that I'd probably make the condition worse.<br>
If I'm halfway through a marathon and my knee starts hurting, I know me-- and I would keep going to the finish line.<br>
I did a 10 mile run today ---- 7 miles in 79:56 with maccabeth, and did the last 3 on my own to finish in 108:32-- neither speed of running or the distance total made my knee hurt-- but then again, it has been longer runs where it's shown.<br>
Chickamauga was going to be a training run (and just a memory thing) for my real goal marathon-- Tybee in February. I don't want to sacrifice Tybee ...<br><br>
But, I'm thinking about doing Chickamauga. I've told everyone I was going to; I'm signed up for it; it's exciting; blablabla<br><br>
I can probably contact the RD and have my registration dropped down to the 10 mile option.<br><br>
SO...<br><br>
Chickamauga--- marathon or ten miler?<br><br><br>
Your thoughts, experience, etc please

 

[QuixoticNotions]

If other, please explain. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Smile"><br><br>
Or, explain reasons just so I know. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Very Happy">

 

[AlaMichele]

You're young. You probably won't be permanently crippled by running the marathon, but it's going to hurt. It may end up hurting for months as a result. I vote for resting. Completely. As in no running at all for at least a week or two.

 

[QuixoticNotions]

Wait, what VRAA team are you on? (jk) <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Very Happy">

 

[Tim]

I voted for the 10 mile option. Running a 26.2 mile training run is not necessary to prepare you for your goal race. I would not risk long term injury for an event that was not a goal race especially if that could prevent me from reaching my goal.<br><br>
I should add that I know nothing about running with injury. I have not been injured at any point during my short life as a runner (5 years). Unless you count the finger. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Smile">

 

[QuixoticNotions]

So you're just more creative with your injuries. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Very Happy"> I've never had this injury before, but I've had shin splints and stress fractures in the shins in my time running (8.5 years) I haven't historically dealt with them too smartly which is why I'm asking you all.<br><br>
Full disclosure, I voted 26.2 -- I won't count it towards my decision, but it's what I want and I didn't want to keep posting see results.

 

[Xena]

How many 20+ mile runs have you completed in the last 3 months??

 

[AlaMichele]

That's only part of my reasoning. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Wink">

 

[aphigirl01]

Rest and deal with the injury. If the upcoming marathon is not a goal race for you, don't do it. Get yourself fixed up for your goal race in Feb.

 

[QuixoticNotions]

A couple. 20 flat, not plus.

 

[QuixoticNotions]

Okay, who voted me off a cliff? Own up!

 

[bootsie]

I voted the 10 mile option since you said that's how much you did today and it didn't bother you. When I ran my last (& only) marathon, I had been having some pain in my hip during longer runs. On race day, the pain started at mile 8 and was EXTREMELY intense (and had me in tears) by mile 17 - but it WAS my goal race and I did finish. I was in therapy for several months afterwards and have spent most of the past year on the sidelines because of a variety of injuries. Was it worth it? Yes, but only because it was my goal race.<br><br>
Save yourself for Feb. Really! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Smile">

 

[Tim]

I mention the injury thing because I would not take advice about injury prevention from someone who has been unable to prevent injury. But I am weird that way. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Smile">

 

[Nettie]

In my experience, if that pain has gotten to the point where it hurts when you're not running, then that's when I have to go to complete rest: no running, no elliptical, no biking. So, I voted for the 10-miler, but I really think you should just rest, stretch, break out the foam roller, go swimming, etc.

 

[QuixoticNotions]

The weird thing is; it started off hurting while not running (at work on our concrete floors), then went to driving (while pressing on the gas pedal) and only recently hurt at all during running... and it's not a very bad pain. Like, less painful than the shin splints I've had, but annoying.<br><br>
The doc said I could do what doesn't cause pain-- he said the shorter runs that don't hurt wouldn't worsen it at all. (About work, while, can't stop that so I'm trying to just favor it a bit)

 

[Nettie]

Have you tried getting new shoes for work? And is the pain on the outside of your knee?

 

[QuixoticNotions]

new shoes -- no. I just use my old running shoes.<br><br>
pain - yes. Outside of knee, in a pretty specific spot.

 

[Nettie]

I would suggest new shoes with actual cushion. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Smile"> If you do the marathon and end up making your IT band even worse, February (<b>in my experience</b>) would allow plenty of time to recover and run another one.

 

[coacht]

10 miles - running yourself into a potential injury is never a good thing.<br><br>
There will be other marathons.

 

[Voodoojunkie]

I'd do it. Then again, I'm an idiot. But I'd go for it. Then you can rest and heal up. If it doesn't make me limp when I run, then I don't care, I'll run through it. But this is just the advice of a madman, so take with a grain of salt. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Smile">