Training to Xiamen International Marathon: Will I make it?

The training had been going smooth and consistent except to skip run for the busy schedule.

After the first half year of recovery, I thought I was slowly going in a good shape.

With the weather become cooling, the running was done at a more comfortable pace.

Beside, thanks to the ever increasing popularity of running, I had 3 tune-up races registered on the Saturday which fit to my schedule of a long run on Sunday.

Except the condition of Padang Polo was muddy due to rainy season, and the road condition (stray dogs) limitation, but these were things that out of control.

However, around end of November, toward the end of a routine medium long run I notice a small twitch behind the hip. It was during running a small down slope in Botanical Garden. The twitch would occur if I tried to press the leg while going down the slope.

I took a day rest. Then, I completed the second tune-up race during that weekend without issue.

The pain occur again toward the end of Sunday long run - also during the last stretch when leg was tired and wish to increase the effort. Because of this, I took another 2 days off. The week after the rest later was fine with 6 x 1200 m interval, 24 km and 35 km run.

Then, on the next week Tues 5 x 600 m interval, the pain set in again after the workout on the way back.

The pain and dullness this time didn't go away after few days of rest.
The rest is still ongoing.

I guess the cause is due to pushing too hard during interval workout on a tired leg. A tired leg will cause running posture to change, engaging different part of leg, thus causing strain on other area.

While the prolonged rest started at the beginning of recovery week, I might console myself that I might have some training effect left on the race day.

I'll keep my body active by having some lap in the swimming pool, with minimal jog during the week.

Now, I just hope can run on race day pain free.

Summary of week -8 to week -1:
Oct
Week 5: 138 km (Highest mileage. 24 km med-long run, 11 km tempo, and 39 km long run)

Nov
Week 1: 99.79 km (Recovery week. Week with 2 event outside work, one of them involved 4 days in JB)
Week 2: 107 km (Tune-up race - Cyberjaya Charity Run)
Week 3: 130 km (Last marathon race-pace run)
Week 4: 99 km (Tune-up race Tanjung Run. First episode of hip pain)

Dec
Week 1: 103 km (2 days of rest. Last 35 km long run)
Week 2: 32 km (4 days rest after Tues interval. No long run. Omit tune up race)
Week 3: 35 km (4 days of rest. 21 km run on Sun)