The Flying Pig Half Marathon

Deciding to Run the Half Marathon

I decided to sign up to run the half marathon in the fall semester of 2022; I knew I would have a busy semester studying for the MCAT in May, and I wanted something else to look forward to and work toward in May to relieve stress. Logically, that meant signing up for a half marathon! I've been running for seven years, and have been wanting to get into longer distance racing for a long time. A marathon would be too time-consuming considering I was also studying excessively, and I figured I could fit the mileage required to race well into my study schedule. So, In January, I started training. I ended up running 30-40 miles per week, my longest long run being 12 miles. I did some runs during the week on the treadmill and some on the roads, and incorporated a little bit of strength training into the training cycle. I also started doing mid-week medium length long runs, ending up being 6-8 miles. It was a great stress reliever and always a great start to my day; I became very addicted to the runner's high and my morning routine of run -> coffee -> breakfast (ALWAYS overnight oats or a yogurt bowl). Pictured below is my post-long run coffee, a preparatory 5k with my brother, post-training Western blots, and another one of my favorite runs!

A Wrench in my Plans

As my mileage peaked, so did my MCAT studying and my regular schoolwork. I was busier than ever, still working and maintaining a rigorous study schedule. I definitely noticed a decline in the quality of my running; I was running slower and felt more fatigued during and after my runs. It took me a while to realize that it was definitely connected to my extremely high stress levels. I was just running to get it out of the way, and I definitely slacked on stretching before my runs in order to get through my workout quicker. Four weeks before my race, I went on an 8 mile long run. I knew two miles in that something didn't feel right; my hip felt tight. However, I was determined to prove to myself that I was fine and that I could get through the half marathon. I pushed through the run, took a gel at 4 miles, and around mile 6, I had a stabbing pain in my left hip that radiated down and toward my knee. At this point, I was 2 miles from my house. Stupidly, instead of calling my roommates to come pick me up (which they would have happily done), I decided to finish my run and run back to my house. Bad decision. I got back to my house in a lot of pain, limped inside, and took some ibuprofen and iced my hip, hoping it would be temporary. It definitely wasn't-- one more painful run and an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon later, it was confirmed that I had a pretty terribly strained IT band and would need several weeks off along with prescription anti-inflammatories to take down some of the swelling. On I went toward recovery. It was dull and frustrating: all I wanted to do was run, but all I could do was the elliptical, the stationary bike, going on walks, and a whole lot of rolling out and stretching. It was mentally and physically challenging, but I learned a lot of very valuable lessons:

1. Stretch before you run and invest in all sides of your fitness, including the prep and maintenance!

2. STRENGTH TRAIN! It keeps your muscles, bones, tendons, and ligaments working in conjunction.

3. Cross training is important, and can help your fitness.

4. Recovery is just as mental as it is physical.

5. Recovery is a lot more fun when you go on walks with friends.

After I was cleared to run, I had (and am still having) a hard time getting back into it; I'm slower, and my fitness has definitely declined. However, I have invested in running shoes that I was fitted for to minimize injury, and am getting back into it slowly. I have invested in recovery tools like rollers, Biofreeze, and different tapes to try my best to keep myself as healthy as possible. I'm slowly learning what it means to take care of myself, and cannot wait to be more in shape than ever for the next Flying Pig Half Marathon! Pictured below are some of my favorite hot girl walks and hot girl bikes:)