My body is falling apart
 

2 weeks to go until my first marathon. Ever since my 16 mile run about 4 weeks ago, I seem to be falling apart at all major joints. Shin splints, foot pain, hip flexor strain, low back pain, and probably a couple others that I can't think of right now.

Plus my average pace has drastically dropped in the past 3 or 4 weeks. Whereas I was previously able to run comfortably at sub 8:00 pace for 13 miles, today I struggled to do 11 miles at 8:30 pace. My left hip tightened up at about 3 miles and stayed that way for the rest of the run.

This isn't exactly the way that I pictured my training to go. I hate running.

My B-I-L ran his first one this year, and this was exactly what happened to him. He was super frustrated by the time the race came around. But he saw a PT to get loosened up the day before the race, then he hopped up on tylenol pre-race, and he still had a very respectable run for a first marathon.

It is a common experience, as you're pushing the body past its natural glycogen limits, and breaking the body down, until you retrain it and the cellular level.

It is very common and requires more rest than most employ to run their first marathons.

Are you starting your taper now? That will help with some of those issues.

20 miles last saturday, 11 today. I was supposed to do 13, but my hip felt so tight and sore I just was not up to another 2 miles when I passed by the car at mile 11.

This week has two 5-6 milers scheduled, followed by 8-10 next saturday.

I hope you're right.

Have you been doing any slow recovery runs, or has everything been at or below race pace?

Have you ever seen anybody running smiling? Sounds like it's time to get back on the bike.

I've seen a couple people who look like they're having a blast when they run, but I always figured they must be masochists.

Runner you must have smoked them in this race. It looks like you really had your weight down.

I wish I could run but I've got a knee that swells up to the size of a grapefruit if I run around the block.