As most of you probably know, about a week and a half ago, I developed ITBS in my right leg (same problem I was having in my left leg.) The night of one of our 10-mile recovery runs, I had a bit of tightness and pain on the outside of my right knee. Then I did something rather stupid, and went hiking the next day. Again, a little pain on the outside of my right knee when going down hills, but nothing spectacular. Tuesday I was doing one of my maintainence runs on the treadmill at work, and started to get the familiar sharp pain in my right knee. However, stupidly, I decided to run through it. Maybe it was that I was so used to running through pain by now, or maybe it was pure stubornness, but I kept going for another couple miles.

That afternoon, I was having quite a bit of pain. So I called up my chiropractor and saw her the next morning. Then it was a pretty rigorous routine of stretching, using the foam roller, ice, ibuprofen, and rest. I skipped that week's 10-miler in favor of rest, and tried running that Sunday evening. Pain. Frustration and ice that evening. More of the same. A couple more chiropractor visits. Thursday morning, I try running again. Pain. But it doesn't linger, so I'm hopeful.

This morning is our 26-mile training run, which I'm skipping. I tried to run in the gym again, but stopped after a mile. I am sitting at work right now with a bag of ice tied to my leg with an electrical cord, and I'm trying not to be overwhelmed by worry and frustration. It would be one thing if I slacked off in training and injured myself, but I think I've been quite dedicated to my training. My mind really wants to do this marathon, but my body is rebelling against the physical activity.

Two more 8-mile runs, and then the marathon. Will I be ready? Who knows? Will I do it? Definitely. No question. It's just a matter of how much I'll hurt afterwards.

Send my right knee healing thoughts, por favor. This is driving me crazy.