Its quite natural and is a biological process for you to feel the muscle pain when you tend to push your physical limitations. This was the same with me when I progressed from 5kms to a Half Marathon. I also had my regular strength and core training clubbed with weekend long runs and one fine day, i was ready to choose the D day for a full marathon. I chose Dubai and was a random choice I made. I registered a year in advance to keep myself on my toes when it comes to training and had ample time to prepare for the run. While following with my regime, an unfortunate incident put my wish list in doubt.
I suffered a L5 disc bulge that kept tapping the S1 root nerve shooting pains from the back to glutes to knee and foot. The pains were terrible. This wasnt a day incident but gradually took its time to aggrevate and raise the red flag by November 2015. This is when standing upright was out of question and was bed ridden for majority of my time. Workouts and running took a backseat and focussed shifted on how to get better and be ready for the marathon in Jan 2016. I visited multiple physiotherapist and got the right set of workouts and treatments to cure the pain to begin with. I remember the sleepless nights with agony of pain and the only thought that played in my mind in loops was whether i would be able to run a full marathon in Dubai next year.
I continued with rehab exercises and concentrated more on back and core strength. Ran with kinesiology tapes around my back but was of not much help and the pain would give me jitters everytime i crossed the 6th km mark and so on. I did not know what to expect out of my body while I was making myself well versed of the worst that i may have to go through if i happen to continue running those miles.
Fortunate enough was i to tag alongside a debut marathon runner and the fellow runner bonding grew as we met for the first time. Took the much needed bite of inspiration to keep my mind off the injury as i had no other go then giving it my best and leave the rest to time.
Dubai definitely was a new territory with hot weather conditions and straight long tar routes to conquer. That plays on your mind too because you tend to see the next milestone but yet too far. The run began in the wee hours and was a happy ride till i hit the 25kms mark. It started getting hotter and hotter. The tinkering pain at 6, 15, 20, 25 kms kept reminding me of my prevaily condition. I survived till the 35 km and the nightmare started to begin. My right foot froze on me slowing down my pace drastically and all i had to wait for a muscle release to help me continue with neutral pace. But I was in for a surprise as my left leg , lower back and neck froze on me too. The pain just grew on me and i saw myself screaming my guts out. I stopped running and leaned against a pillar to stretch my legs. This helped a bit and i continued doing so as i literally dragged myself on the route. There was a time i felt my body can take it no more but at the same time I wasnt ready to give up yet and lived through the moment for 30-40 minutes anf guess what, i had only crossed a km more. This was indeed a hell raiser and i was waiting for all to fall apart as i moved forward.
Never believed in miracles, but guess one has to experience it to believe it. Post the 37th km, all the fatigueness mysteriously disappeared, my muscles unlocked and my body felt light weighted. All i could think is of the finish line and collapse. Tried catching my with my pace in the last few kms and with a teary eye blessed myself with a marathon finish.
The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential…these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence. #borrowedquote