Walking, Running, Injuries and Goals

As most of you know by now, I am a fitness nut, and have had previous issues with weight.  I was the fat kid that was the last one selected for the team - if I didn't ditch PE class to begin with.  I didn't know how to play any team sports (still don't) and was essentially an overweight, unhealthy child.  So when I ran my first mile at age 40, it was a major accomplishment, and a real changing point in my life.  That first mile made me realize that I could do just about anything that I set my mind to, and sent me on a path with an end goal of running a marathon.  Since I am writing a book about my experiences, I wanted to be able to say that I went from 260 pound to 26.2 miles! Great title, isn't it!  Plus, I am so driven and goal oriented, I really want to add a marathon to the "things to do before I die" list.  So I spent the last two years trying to get stronger by following sensible, intelligent training programs to get me there.  Only problem is that my body is betraying me!  I was able to do a 5K four months after that first mile, and worked my way up to a 10K, and everything was fine.  Then I started training for a half marathon (the Arizona Distance Classic www.arizonadistanceclassic.com a wonderful event here in Oro Valley).  I signed up for a formal training program (see http://www.runningwalking.com/ for info) of walk/run intervals - very sensible, I thought.  Then one Saturday morning I got sharp shooting pains in my right knee at about the 3 mile mark.  The conclusion was an IT band injury from overtraining, and to RICE it (rest, ice, compress, elevate).  So I backed off, RICED, did a lot of cross training for months, and I WALKED the half marathon.  I had to complete my goal!  I started power walking with a little running here and there, and gradually tried again.  Well the second time around I got the knee pain at the 4 mile mark.  AARRGGH!  So I backed off again.  Now I do 1:1 walk/run intervals 3 times a week with a neighbor's dog - Lucy the dachshund terrier mix (more on her in another blog!).  I cross train on the other days; yoga, elliptical, weights, bike, etc. Won't get me to a marathon, but should at least keep me healthy, right?  Wrong!  I woke up on Tuesday and could barely get out of bed.  Pain in my right hip and lower back.  Once I was upright I was ok, but getting up and down was a nightmare.  The pain would move from my back to my knee to my neck to my finger - all on my right side.  I finally went to a chiropractor on Friday, and she did some major cracking, and told me that my strides were probably too long, and to shorten them up.  She also told me to avoid a few of the yoga poses where the right leg is out in front.  Felt better yesterday, but the pain is coming back again today.  Just the idea of not being able to exercise puts me in a state of panic!  I trained on the elliptical today because I figured it would be hard to over-stride on a machine.  Hopefully, I will overcome this too, but I am having a very hard time giving up some of my goals.  I WILL do a marathon, even if I have to walk it!!