As of today I have 19 days until the BAA Half Marathon

It makes me both a little excited and a little nervous.

Anyone who has indulged me and read this blog for any amount of time knows I’ve been working through a hamstring or piriformis injury since early this summer. The physical therapists at Harvard Vanguard in Somerville have been doing a great job and I feel like I’m on the road to recovery.

After running the Lake Winnie Relay and the Lone Gull 10K this past weekend, my confidence has returned. I’m still in pain sometimes but it takes longer to hurt and the pain is less intense. Even with “competitive” running these past few weekends my leg continues to improve. I know that I’m not out of the woods with this yet, but I feel that I can salvage the rest of my running season.

The Lone Gull 10K turned out to be an amazing run for me. I didn’t spend a lot of time planning or specifically training for it, but everything worked. I’m going to follow the same routine for the BAA Half. No high fiber food but high glycemic food instead, like Fig Newtons. I want to have my blood sugar nice and high during the race. During the 10K I took a GU around 2.6 miles, less than half way. I’ll probably take 2 or 3 GUs with me on the Half and take one every 3 miles or so. The GU is designed to boost blood sugar to give that boost of energy.

I’ve learned to stop drinking about 30 minutes before start time. I get in line for the porta-potty and do not start drinking again until a few minutes before the start. This way I get all of the “processed” fluid out of my body before the race. The water I drink in the gate will be in my system to do what it’s supposed to do and will be eliminated as sweat.

Usually the BAA has paper cups for their water stops. I’ve learned to pinch the top of the cup, keep running and take a gulp. I often only get one mouth full, but it is usually enough if I hit all of the water stops. I’ve come to call this “The Runners Gulp”. Pinching the cup helps keep me from pouring water in my shoes as I run also.

So, 19 days to stretch and get a few “long” runs in. 19 days to avoid over doing it or getting injured. When the club runs on Tuesday nights it is now pitch black out. This can be very dangerous and last week one of my friends took a spill during our run. I’ve done it, just about everyone has. Usually it’s no big deal. But, a twisted ankle or worse can ruin a race if you do not have a few weeks to recover. so, it’s almost time to step cautiously and be a bit more careful.

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great run!

©2012 andrew nagelin