Over-training?

Prologue
Okay - so I'll lay it out on the line - I amped up my paces/speedwork starting in June/July, and I also committed to a fall marathon.  I had been running 30-35 miles a week, and thought I could jump right into week 5 of a marathon training plan.  Turns out that the mileage was ok for jumping in (I was actually a little bit ahead), but now that my long runs have increased past where I was, I think that I didn't ramp down the speed work soon enough.  That being said, after naming my blog what I named it, I am now (for the first time) going to talk about my obsession with thinking about injuries.  First, however, I must share this photo.

Randomness
This is a route that I have a love/hate relationship with.  Even though you can't really tell from the poor pic, the road climbs gradually forever (over about 2 miles from here to the top - which on a clear day you can see).  In this photo, you can't really see the top - in part due to the overcast weather, and in part due to the crappy camera I took the photo on.  I clocked the ascent at approximately a 100 ft elevation climb - which starts at the little dip that you can see (where the double yellow changes direction).  I would have taken the photo from the lowest point, but the rainbow was better from here.

Injuries
Ok, so back to my crazy thoughts.  I should have cut out the speed work altogether, instead of merging the marathon plan in while continuing the speed work.  I feel like my body is on the verge of one huge breakdown.  Basically, everything from my hips down are giving me indicators that my body can't keep up with my workouts.  I'll start from the toes and work my way up.

Feet
Ok, so this has been an ongoing issue from long before any signs of over training began.  I seem to have symptoms of Metatarsalgia depending on the type of run I do, and/or what socks I wear, or how I tie my shoes.  Yes - I've played with all of these factors to try to eliminate this.  For those of you unfamiliar, it feels like you're running with a pebble in your shoe, generally somewhere around the ball of the foot.  For me it strikes between the Big and second toes.  I sometimes get numbness in my toes, but always get pain (when it flares up).  In the past, it's been bad when I get a new pair or running shoes, regardless of brand (yes, I am currently alternating/running in 4 different types).  So my thought about the shoe being the factor is out the window.  I have experimented with how tight I lace up, and where I put the most tension, etc. and this does make a difference, but at the expense of blisters.  If I leave the shoe laces really loose (especially in the forefoot and toe areas), this generally fixes the problem, but then I get blisters in the areas that I would typically get the pain - if I lace up tighter.  I've recently started experimenting with different socks - and this seems to help, but I need to buy more so that I can try them on more runs, before I view this as a permanent fix.  I now have a calloused ridge that starts between the two toes, and ends just south of the ball of the foot.  Yes it's on both feet.  The issue does, however, seem to be more problematic on my left foot these days.

More Feet
The other day I started to feel discomfort on the bottom of my feet while running.  Having dealt with Plantar Fasciitis in the past, I started to worry if this was an early indicator that this was creeping up.  Since that run, I haven't noticed it again.  I hope it was a fluke.

Achilles
Oh my dreaded Insertional Achilles Tendinitis.  I dealt with this for the bulk of my Philly Marathon training.  I had trained for weeks not realizing that the stiffness in the back of my heels in the AM was this - until it become more and more painful and climbed higher on my leg - culminating in a searing pain that would not cease on an easy 4 miler.  Yes, a trip to the doc ensued.  That stiffness is starting to come back...

Calves
I have sore spots along my whole calf on both sides - particularly problem sites are on the outside edge proximal to the knee, on the outside of the ankles, right where the bone meets the muscles (Peroneal tendonitis?), just below the knee (all parts), and where the Achilles ends and the calf begins.

Knees
This is one area that I've been pretty lucky with in the past, but recently after long runs, I have soreness in the ligaments the run on either side of the knee, and I occasionally sense a niggle or two while running in the patella area.

Hamstrings
Although I don't generally have soreness in my hammies, these are usually the first muscle to cramp on me in long runs.  I've recently learned that the stiffness I've been feeling feeling at the tops of my calves and behind my knees may actually be hamstring tendinitis.

Quads
They're always sore these days.  They generally don't ever feel injured, but they are always sore, and if I rest enough for the soreness to dissipate, they usually feel better at the top first, and the relief gradually moves down, so that just above the knees takes the longest to not feel sore.

IT Bands
This one crept up on me like a sniper in my Philly training.  I didn't even realize what it was until after the marathon was over.  I remember climbing the only hill in the marathon, and almost dropping to the ground when it hit.  I had similar sensations in training leading up to the race, but none like what I felt in the Marathon.  I thought for a while that I was done.  Lucky for me, there are really no other hills - otherwise I wouldn't have known what to do.  Now I know what works for me - good stretching usually keeps it away - but lately it's been stiff and sore (but hasn't bothered me mid-run yet).

Conclusion
So there you have it.  I'm finally living up to the name of my blog - I know what's inevitable - I need RICE.  BUT I DON'T WANT TO!  I'm hoping that a lot of stretching, foam rolling, a sports massage or two, and cutting down on the speed work (but keeping the mileage), will bring me back to a point where I'm not feeling sore all of the time.  I say this even as I think about the 5K race I'm going to do Saturday.  Speaking of races...

Races and Places
I'm trying to get into the Sackets Harbor 18.12 (yes 18.12 miles), to practice my pacing for the Empire Marathon.  I've had a hard time establishing a goal for my 2nd marathon, but I think I had finally settled on a very realistic "A Goal" of sub 3:50, but then the niggles started...  I sure hope I don't have to cut days out of my training...