Marathon #11 : Umbria – Trasimeno 03/04/2012

03 Apr, 2012 by Luca

Lidia and I were the only participants of marathon number 11 around the Trasimeno lake in Umbria. The night before the run, I woke up several times. First because Lidia forgot to switch off her 3:15AM alarm clock.. thanks! later because my plantar fascitiis on my left foot started to hurt again (something I have been fighting against since February) and because of the heavy rain. So at breakfast I was pretty worried for the morning ahead.
Despite the rain, I couldn’t convince Lidia to stay in the camper, she wanted to keep me company on her bike, what a woman! The course was a out & back on a bike path from our camping around the Trasimeno lake.
Luckily, after the 5th km the light rain stopped. Not the same happened to the pain on the left foot. This is an old problem that came up again at the end of January while I was training in Sydney. Technically called Plantar Fasciitis, it is the imflammation of the plantar of the foot. In my case, the reasons for it are multiple: new shoes, a muscolar unbalance (most likely a nerve trapped between the muscles’ fibre or tight hamstring/glutes). Failing all the natural remedies and rest, a week before I left Sydney, I had a cortisone injection as strong anti-imflammatory and to kill the pain. Fully aware this was not a solution but a temporary remedy. The doctor said that the effect could last a month, a month and a half, depending on how much stress I put on it. Well… It’s now been over a month since the injection so I’m out of warranty! Today the pain was not extreme, very bereable, I hope it stays like this for a little while longer
Beside the pain to the foot, the rest of the run went very well. The day off on Monday had a positive effect. My legs were “flying” from the start and the first few kms I was already under the 6min/km, speed I kept till today. I run on gravel road too and I love it, I find it easier, more interesting and fun than road running. And for once, Lidia could enjoy it too! There was some mud but nothing like the sand dunes she found in Puglia! We both enjoyed the scenary around the lake and chat about everything. We talked about the first 2 weeks on the road and how to get more visibility about what we are doing. At the end of the day, we have an objective. Raise money for cancer research. Without visibility, no money.
Hardly realizing it, we were covering kilometers.. around the 35km mark, I realised that at that pace I would have completed under the 4hours and, more important, that I was not pushing it. It looks like that my body is starting to get stronger the more I run. This is something I read about in some books of ultra-runners, it is now happening to me too.
I completed the run under 4 hours.. by a minute only but hey, I went through the wall! In normal circumnstances I would target the 3hours mark but given my current challenge, completing under 4 hours is already a success.
Will see how my body will react tomorrow for the run number 12, in Viareggio, Toscany region. Let’s see if Lidia’s massage will have losen up my left leg.
If someone has a positive thought to spare for my foot.. it’s very welcome! I’m told is pretty hard to hop a marathon.

The stats of the run are:
Time: 3h:59,
Distance: 42.20
Participants: 2 (Lidia and I!)
Food: 3 Lidia’s power bar, 1.75l water
Garmin GPS : http://connect.garmin.com/activity/164385864
Highlights: Run on gravel road for 98% of the time
Low points: The pain on my left foot.. go away you *&%)”£(%$)(“£” bastard!