Artichoke's Running Blog (Ken Spence)

Walking with Elaine and Savannah this morning, 5:10 a.m.  40 minutes, with 1 mile running.  Gym at 7:15 a.m. with 20 minutes elliptical, 10 minutes upright cycle, 10 minutes recumbent.  Got my  heart rate nearer to optimum today.  Walked in and saw both my doctor and my physical therapist talking so they asked how I was doing and whether I got scheduled with the spine specialist for reviewing my MRI.  I told them that's why I was at the gym so late, my appointment was at 9:45 a.m.  Weights tonight for 20 minutes at home on the total gym.  

The specialist said I actually have a tear in one of the disks and a small bulge in the other.  He has scheduled me for an epridural cortisone injection on June 3 and July 1.  Hopefully that will help me get my running back up to par.  It works for many, but not everybody.  He said if it doesn't work, my long run days or marathoning may be over, but hopefully that won't be the case.  I am tolerating the every other day running without much residual pain, so I'm somewhat optimistic.  He doesn't want me running for 7 to 10 days after the injections.  That will barely get me to Ragnar.  Wants me to continue what I'm doing now with the alternative exercises and the running easy up until the injections, as long as it's going okay.  The gym  has been good for me and  I need to continue doing that even if I can get back to running well again.