I have been following Pfitz's 18/70 week plan since early May. It's my first time following a canned plan. Things had been going pretty well. Although I could never seem to fit in the tune-up races, so really have no clue what sort of shape I'm in. Fast forward to an easy paced 10 mile run on August 23rd. I wore a borderline pair of shoes, 380ish miles on them although probably had nothing to do with the shoes. Around 7 miles into a 10 mile run my left knee started to hurt. The pain seems to come and go. I think it's most likely runners knee or some form of tendonitis caused by a very tight psoas. I go to the chiro for adjustments and ART and also get sports massages every 4-6 weeks. I stretch, use a foam roller, marathon stick and tennis ball daily. Not sure what else I could do to prevent.

Anyway, the point:

My goal marathon is 11 days away on Sept 15th. I had a very agressive goal of running sub 3 which I fear is pretty much out the window. The race is in Ohio so bailing on the race is not really an option.

Do I jump on the Advil train for the next 10 days hope for the best and still give it a go?

 I got some ART last week on the psoas and it helped, but things just shifted around and other stuff in the hip / hip flexor tightened up. I finally have a sports massage tonight. This was supposed to be my tune-up for the race, but now it's more critical. I could not get in any sooner since my therapist cut her hours way back and is booked months out.

Do I just come to terms that the race is shot, run it as another painful longrun, and look for an October marathon to race?

Looking at Hartford on October 13th. I'm hobbyjogging monkey so that's not a race option

Do I just come to terms that the race is shot, run it as another painful longrun, take the time to heal and assume I wasted the past 5 months of training because marathons are stoopid.

This may be classic taper tweak out.  Have you tried foam rollering your IT band on that leg?    Take some advil and try to relax, if Paul Ryan can go sub 3, so can you.    

Ouch! 

Well, I'm not an experienced runner, so I can't offer an wisdom, but hey, advise doesn't have to be good to give it!  So here we go:

1) Ice and Advil.  Just go easy on your sharpening in your Taper so you'll notice if it gets worse.

2) Hope it's a Taper-Phantom-Pain - probably the best course of action.  Sometimes this crap just pops up and doesn't really mean anything other than your body is getting nervous.  At least that's what Julia seemed to tell me when I had similar mystery pain show up in my Taper.

Best of luck, though.  Keep the spirits up and maybe it will go away on its own.

This may be classic taper tweak out.  Have you tried foam rollering your IT band on that leg?    Take some advil and try to relax, if Paul Ryan can go sub 3, so can you.    

I wish it was just a taper tweak. I think I'm just old and fragile. I had somthing similar crop up when I trainined for my first marathon only it happened earlier in the cycle. At that time I wasn't great with stretching and did not go to chiro or get regular sports massage.

To answer the question, yes I foam roller the IT bands in both legs a few times a day

 The answer is FUCK NO. You never come to terms with the fact your race is shot until you are in the ambulance with an iv in your arm, or sitting on the ground before or after the finish line, unable to move.

 

You've done the work. Start coming to terms with the fact that it's time finish the game.

This is what I needed to hear. I knew I could count on you

+1 for Mikeymike give it hell. A good taper and a shot of adrenaline can do impressive things. Most of your best races come when you least likely expect them. Give it hell.

Start coming to terms with the fact that it's time finish the game.

That was awesome. 

Eric, if you jog this one in hopes of running a different marathon in October/November, who's to say something won't be niggling at you then? Ice the fuck out of it. Put one of those patella band thingies or a brace on it if it makes you feel better. And then go get it. 

I would agree that you do everything you can to show up to the start line in the best possible condition - Then run the marathon.  From your speed workouts you should have some idea of your speed / condition and expected race pace.  Make sure you are racing the marathon comfortable fast and not on the edge ... pushing the envelope ... hope I can hold on fast.  You might be suprised at how comfortable running fast will be on race day - Do not get greedy until the last 10k.  Smooth - Comfortable fast.    There is probably a 5 second per mile difference between comfortably fast and pushing it to the edge ... stay smooth.

As someone pointed out - Don't bail, don't give in the 1st sign of some discomfort or distress - just try to relax and keep your stide efficient through the pain or tightness.  Sometimes it will be fine - others not, but you do not learn anything from punting.