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)

Pick up from where it left off: Week -4 to Xiamen International Marathon

Since the last post on May, there are few progression on the training and running.

However, many times I stared on the blank page and didn't know how to start or how to continue.

When the habit of delaying was formed into shape each week with running data accumulating, the writing usually left undone.

At the same time, some other tasks was given priority as well after training was done.

The past 7 month can be divided into three phases:
May - July: recovering from the injury which weekly training consisted of mainly strength workout and easy run.

July - Aug : Building up mileage for next cycle of training

Aug - current: Training for Xiamen Int Marathon

By around mid-May or June, the decision to not participate in Gold Coast Airport Marathon was made.

With the attempt to get a place in Tokyo Marathon 2017 failed, the focus was then on Xiamen which will be held on the 2nd day of the new year.

Training was still ongoing at the low period as the mileage summary below:

May - 149 km

June - 203 km

July - 175 km

Aug 

Week 1 - 48 km

Week 2 - 82 km

Week 3 - 90 km
Week 4 - 78 km
Week 5 - 96 km (1st week of training cycle, 1st tempo)

Sept
Week 1 - 98 km (failed attempt of m-pace run)
Week 2 - 115 km (2nd tempo)
Week 3 - 120 km (1st 32 km long run)
Week 4 - 126 km (3rd tempo, 2nd m-pace run)

Oct
Week 1 - 100 km (recovery week)
Week 2 - 88 km (4th tempo, skipped Sat recovery and Sun long run as tired of  working and travelling)
Week 3 - 127 km (5th tempo, 1st 35 km long run)
Week 4 - 80 km (3rd m-pace run, done 2 days after 24 km run, brought forward to Fri for outstation trip on the weekend)

The summary was done up to Oct as it started to get busy each week.
There were almost weekly or biweekly travel to outstation on Oct and Nov, which make keeping up with training a challenge.

Like a marathon, things will be getting easier stage by stage.

Roughly 3 more weeks to go for the next run.

Like walking the tightrope, I need to keep my core muscle (and heart and mind) strong to keep the balance between training, working and other aspects of life.

Recently there was a news about a man juggles to complete a marathon at 2 h 55 min, "without a single drop" the headline added.

That is totally the skill I need.