Weird aches before the race, normal?

[WaDiWo]

Hi all!

I think I'm being paranoid, but i'm getting weird pains in my legs this week before marathon weekend. My long runs up to 23 miles have been great. Now i'm in my taper , and things are starting to hurt.

I want to run healthy. Am I just being paranoid? Im not asking for specific medical advice, just seeing if any of you experience the same before a race. This will be my first marathon (and goofy!)

thanks, and healthy running!

 

[Dug720]

Welcome to taper madness.

Most likely that is all it is.

 

[2TxAgs]

Ran my first half marathon on Tuesday. On Sunday night, pains in my left knee as I walked up the stairs. I'd NEVER felt them before, and not since. I do believe the body can read the anxiety of the mind and convert that into little aches and pains...

 

[SAHDad]

Probably taper madness. Every minor little ache, twinge, misstep, sniffle, sneeze, hot/cold becomes fraught with meaning and ominous portents. Most runners get really attentive the days before a race, and start picking up on little discomforts that normally they would ignore.

 

[WaDiWo]

thanks for the reassurance ... so i'm not crazy ... but actually i am -- with Taper Madness!! LOL. o feel better already.

 

[JeffW]

Hi all!

I think I'm being paranoid, but i'm getting weird pains in my legs this week before marathon weekend. My long runs up to 23 miles have been great. Now i'm in my taper , and things are starting to hurt.

I want to run healthy. Am I just being paranoid? Im not asking for specific medical advice, just seeing if any of you experience the same before a race. This will be my first marathon (and goofy!)

thanks, and healthy running!

I don't know what your taper plan is (and opinions on how to taper are as prevalent a training plans), but I found that this always happened to me if I took additional rest days during my taper. So I always stick to the same running pattern as regular training and just drop the miles. Other than that, the little aches and pains still pop up and that is part of the "joy" of tapering.

 

[mufasa0505]

I'm a complete hypochondriac in the days leading up to a big race. Aches, pains, clumsiness... I over-analyze every little twitch.

 

[paxsarah]

I don't know what your taper plan is (and opinions on how to taper are as prevalent a training plans), but I found that this always happened to me if I took additional rest days during my taper. So I always stick to the same running pattern as regular training and just drop the miles. Other than that, the little aches and pains still pop up and that is part of the "joy" of tapering.

This is smart taper advice and I was going to offer something similar based on my recent experience. I was sick and not only didn't run, but didn't do anything more strenuous than light yoga for 12 days - then I did an 18 mile run on my first day back. It was rough - and yes, I had been sick, but my legs should have been fresh and my legs were definitely the weak link that day. So don't be like me and my forced "taper" - still run on all of your normal running days, just run less distance.

 

[cewait]

Definitely taper madness.

An yes, run during taper - hard just not long.