AM: Trial run to test the healing. No noticeable improvements. Still hurt over the knee. It wasn't terribly painful, just still not right. 4 miles
PM: Went for a bike ride since it appears that will be my new pastime since the running is just not happening. Wellsville Mendon Loop 24.5 Miles 1:14 20mph ave (convert to 7.5 cross-train)
Went back to the doctor again today. They first wanted me to do an MRI, but I discussed it further with the doc and we both agreed that it likely wouldn't give us any further information. I passed all the mobility tests and we agree it is unlikely that I have torn meniscus. We agree that it is merely runners knee (aka IT Band Tendonitis). So, I have tried the run through it technique and wasted 9 weeks. Time to try something else. Last time I went to the doctor, I got a steriod and anti-inflammatory shot and the next week was blissful running until the shot wore off and I was back to square one. This time I will get the shot and then the key step will be no running period for a month (at first) maybe more after a few mile test at that point. So what will I do in the mean time? Mtn Biking and Road Biking. I just can't stand sitting around twiddling my thumbs so that is the plan. Since it is only running that hurts the knee, biking is still allowed. So biking I will do to keep the horses calmed down.
So, canceled my entry into Pocatello and Logan Peak. Truly a sad moment. Well, so things around here will be even more boring then they have been for the last 9 weeks. It will be a log of my biking, walking and basically non-running experiences. So come back in 4-8 weeks and I will be back.
House to Providence canyon and along Deer Fence to Dry and up dry until the snow line. 1 hour to that point (8.5 miles and 1500' vert). Back to Providence canyon and then up the canyon 1.75 miles (42 min) then home (19 min). I went as high up Providence as I did up Dry and the road was clear. I bet it is clear up the Quarry. I will investigate further next week.
The highlight was riding across the flooding Blacksmithfork river after it joins Logan river as it crosses 6th west. The sand bag bank they built had burst and the water was a foot deep running across the road. My feet were submerged as I peddled. It is crazy. No flooding issues at my house though.
T- 2:00:45 (10.5mph) 21 miles 2600' Vert
*Weekly summary - Starting the clock over at Week 1 of no running. 36 miles of biking, 3250' Vert, 2 hours of walking, 300 mins total. Next week will be daily mountain bike rides with some bike commute thrown in.
Bike ride with my son on Planet Walk netted us some pictures of the water situation here. This first pic is what happens when the Blacksmith Fork River Floods the "Planet Walk".
The raging water under the bridge is usually dry except for during the peak of the runoff. It is far from peaking and its a good 2 feet deep there.
* Shot is with river running at 900 cubic feet per min (88% of flood stage)
House to Providence Canyon, along Deer Fence to Millville Canyon. Up the canyon 1 mile then back. Lots of hills again. Dressed too warm today for fear of a repeat of yesterday.
Green canyon to Birch Canyon - A disaster since the dirt road I was on turned into a mud pit and after walking my bike out of the mud since it wouldn't move anymore, I had to use a rock and a stick to peek off the mud to make it ride-able again. And I wasn't even close to Birch canyon yet. So, I bailed on the dirt road and wandered on streets until I hit Summit Drive and took the shortcut to the canyon. The best part of that was the crossing of the creek coming down the canyon. It was deep enough to get my bike partially washed off. But my feet were then freezing the rest of the ride. I only made it 2 miles up the canyon or so before the muddy road was just too much mud.
Birch to Green - I stuck to the boring roads and avoided the mud this time. I didn't even take the canal trail since I was unsure of its muddiness. I didn't want to get stuck again.
Up and Back in Green - I rode up only the first 2 singletrack legs (with the road section in the middle) before time ran out and I needed to call it a day. That was the highlight of the ride.
Green to First Dam - I seriously love the singletrack section here. Its way more fun on a bike than running. Narrowly missing the scary brush at high speeds is fun.
T- 2:40 (10.5mph) 28 miles 2800' Vert
** Week Summary 51 miles of cross training equivalent (at 10 min mile pace) of biking. I was on the bike every day and loved it. 95 miles of mountain biking most of those miles were hard earned hilly miles. 8350' Vert. 511 mins (8 hr 31 min).
Solid week of fun. Knee is still tender. Doesn't hurt during or after riding, but is tender to the touch. Oh well, give it another week or 5.
Thanks to a tip from Bruce Copeland I was able to locate the Providence Canyon Singletrack Trail. Yep, that's right. A new (at least to me) trail to explore. It took 2 extra crossings of the creek, some seriously wet feet, and a few dead ends, but I found the first half of the trail. I say first half, because it took until Tues to find the other half.
Day 2 of exploring up Providence Canyon. Today I took the first section of singletrack (starts 1 mile up the canyon at the first wood fencing).
Section 1 is .9 of a mile with a net gain of 300'
Section 2 is a faint trail next to the road for .25 with a net gain of 120'
Section 3 is on the other side of the road (North) .8 of a mile 400' gain.
Total is pretty much 2 miles even of technical trail. If green canyon is for beginners, this is intermediate for sure. Love it.
Past the end of the trail is the Quarry. I went as far up the road past the quarry as the snow would let me (it wasn't far) before turning around and blasting down the trail.
Sad I didn't get to run Pocatello today, but did enjoy a great ride in the light rain/mist. I pieced some good trails together. House to Providence along Deer Fence to Dry. Down Mountain Road cutting over to the Sumac shortcut. Up the river trail to Spring Hollow CG. Back to the mouth and up BST to Green. I ran out of time and only made it to the end of the first mile of singletrack before heading home via BST and Deer Fence. Lots of vert today and this week in general. Getting stronger...
T-3:16 (11.3mph) 3000' Vert (37 miles)
** Weekly summary 107 Miles of mountain biking, 9650' Vert, 584 mins
It rained over an inch of rain last night and this morning. Water was coming out of our ears. I didn't want to bike in a mud bog so I stuck to the roads today. As it was I was racing rain storms and battling wind left and right. I got soaked and then the sun was out, over and over. Decided I had enough at 24 miles. I went out to the Mendon Cemetery then over to wellsville before the rain chased me home.
