It all started here 4 years back when we were herded into the 3 rd edition of Vizag Bay Marathon 2018, just for the fun of company and to support a friend, who wanted to participate in the event perhaps as a proof of fitness. It was a time when, I was not even aware of timing mat and missed timing record in spite of completing my first 10K event!
After comfortably finishing three more 10K events during pandemic times, the ambition to attempt a half marathon started growing slowly. It was a pleasant coincidence that again Vizag Bay Marathon was destined to be my first HM!
The very second practice run to cross the 10K barrier ended up with a left knee pain on the outer side. During the next few practice sessions it started making its presence felt much early, even after a 2 km jog. I resorted to the easier option – but much scorned by doctors – of Google remedy. Self-diagnosis gave it a probable name – Iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS).
Started doing all kinds of fancy workouts, stretches, twists and turns as advised by the YouTube videos. Also, drastically cut down on the practice runs up to the event – both mileage-wise and number-wise. Self-healing attempts without proper assessment and reduced work outs made me participate in my first half marathon with a false sense of confidence.
The 5th edition of Vizag Bay Marathon scheduled on 24th April, 2022 attracted a large contingent of runners from all over the country with different purposes – elite runners in pursuit of podium finish, passionate runners who wanted to improve their personal bests, budding runners who wanted to make a beginning, fun runners who just wanted to enjoy the ambience along with friends and families.
The atmosphere was electrifying and the aerobics instructor on the dais at the starting point was entertaining the crowd and guiding the participants in their warm up.
With a growing suspicion at the back of mind, I ran slower than usual, took more halts than I usually take and more hydration and fuelling than necessary. But, I could not deceive the injury from raising its head again.
The stabbing pain started like a faint doubt after about 12 km for the first time. The decline was steady and gradual – slow run to jog, jog to walk, walk to halts and finally limping between the halts.
One cannot be tired of the beautiful combination of the serpentine beach road, sands, sea and sky. The flotilla of small fishing boats and the giant cargo ships, ever changing colour of the horizon and the crowds of visitors on the Sunday beach provide a majestic back drop for a perfect run. In addition, contrasting groups of youth in the surroundings could take away the focus from the pain for some time – one group speeding on their bikes on one side and another voluntary group cleaning the beach off plastics on the other side. But the diversions were short lived and all the attempts to divert from the pain failed.
Knee supports, two rounds of pain killer spray from mobile medical units and application of ice pack could not reduce the pain. All the HM participants, who were trailing till then started overtaking me one by one. The initial confidence of surmounting the worst case scenario of reaching the end point within cut off time started fading away, as even moderate walking was not possible.
Event coordinator and the ‘coach’ from Vizag Runners, who is a prominent figure in the running circles of Vizag, was very much concerned and watchful about my situation. The dilemma was tantalizing – whether to abandon the event to avoid further damage or to complete it somehow, as the finish line was within eye sight. Finally, I could limp to the end point through excruciating pain, to get an overall position of 230 out of 284 HM finishers.
“Run When You Can, Walk If You Have To, Crawl If You Must; Just Never Give Up” – Dean Karnazes
But, simply limp if you like to finish!
But this episode is not about the heroics. It is all about misjudgement, over confidence and evasion of reality check.
A prompt visit to orthopaedist put me on a course to recovery. “One should be careful about what not to do, before attempting anything” was the terse comment from the orthopaedist, who is a long-time acquaintance, on my self-treatment.
Regular physiotherapy and strengthening for a couple of months, strictly as per doctor’s advice, gave confidence to be back on track and complete two 10 K events without any discomfort.
Again, the temptation of attempting a half marathon – 21.1 km – started raising its head! But, of course, not without proper practice and trials from now onwards.
