Old Man Still running

I hoped that I could get back to normal training today, but still have joint (knee) pain.  The muscles and tendons have healed, but I likely have brusing on the bone/cartiledge.   So, since there wasn't any improvement since Saturday, I'll probably shut down the running for awhile.  Walking is fine, pain free, but the jarring of running still causes enough pain that it heads toward limping.  I'll do walking and probably hit the pool tomorrow morning.   No problem.  I really don't need any more training before Rocky Raccoon.  Just need to maintain and heal up.   I've had this before, usually takes a week or two more.  Rest is good.

Tested things out again on the treadmill.  Slight improvement, but not a lot.  Pain is still radiating down the tibia bone.  I'm sure the top of the tibia is bruised.  When I run at a steep incline, the pressure points on the joint are different and there is less pain.  The pain isn't terrible, I can block it out, but it doesn't go away until I stop.  No pain walking.  No pain on the stupid elipical.  I guess I use that crazy machine....either that or bore myself to death swimming.

Discouraging.  Leg pain even when walking today.  Looks like I'll go into my Rocky Raccoon 100 taper now, shut down the running and hit the pool, swimming and pool "running."  I know the drill, haven't had to do this for a couple years.

It is quite possible that my knee is finally bone-on-bone.   Certainly hope it hasn't gotten that bad, but I know eventually it will be.  Still hoping for a minor bone bruise.  I know it isn't bad because there is no swelling, no fluid on the knee, no popping/snapping, just some pain when the femur and tibia jar down together and pain down the side of the tibia, probably tibial stress injury which just takes a couple weeks.  Hopefully not a stress fracture which takes six weeks.

I hit the pool for the first time in about two years.  Great fun swimming outside in 12 degree temperature.  Thankfully the pool is about 92 degrees...quite hot. 

I swam 1.25 miles.  I was very suprised that it felt so easy.  In the past it would take me a good week of swimming conditioning to push a mile, but no so.  The only limiting factor was a kink in my neck from turning it all the time.  I could have continued on.  Not blazing fast, but I got in done in 60 minutes.   When I started running six years ago, I needed to swim every other days because my legs just couldn't handle running every day, so I swam a lot.  Once I lost weight and was conditioned to run better, I dropped swimming from my workouts.   I now only go to it when injured.  Last time, I worked up to 4-mile swims.   Yes, I can't do anything easy.

So, what about doing an ironman?   I smile when people think an ironman is really tough.  I know that with a couple more weeks of swimming, I could go do an ironman, no problem, finishing pretty well.  No big deal.  Would be saddle sore big-time from the bike, but would get it done.  There really is no comparison doing an ironman and running a 100-miler.  I really have no interest in tris or ironmans.  My love is running.

When I swim, I use sleeves on my knees to keep the knee caps firmly in place.  All the kicking can really loosen up the knees causing problems for runners, making the knee caps track wrong.  The sleeves really help prevent that from happening.   My bad leg feels much better today.  I have detected the the knee is a little loose, probably some fluid.  That should go away in a week or so.

In the pool at 5 a.m.  As I arrived, it looked like kids were also coming.   They were surprised to see me that early.  Looks like they were planning on some hanky-panky in the pool or something.  The old guy cramped their style and made them behave.  They only stayed an hour.

Tough workout.  Two-mile swim,  30 minutes pool running (using hand floats, doing a cross-country-ski motion in the deep end), also tough kicking to really work the hamstrings and quads.  Beautiful sunrise from the pool which has a great vantage point and little above the lake.  Went in and did 100 situps and tried using the elipticle and bike.  Those machines are bad for serious runners, they put your feet too far apart, causing an improper angle, like over-pronating, putting pressure on the inner knee.  I just can't stay on them long.   Felt pretty worn out.  The leg is feeling great, very tempted to run, but sticking to the recovery plan.

Gave my Altra Lone Peak shoes to my son.  No offence, but I've concluded they are very poor shoes for long distance on trails.  I'd never run in them for an ultra.  Perhaps if I was 140 pounds, but the foot protection is just bad. They are a stress fracture waiting to happen.  I do like the zero drop.  They just need a good foot plate in them and a little more cushioning.    As my son starts running, I'm hoping they can teach my son some good form, and toughen up his feet without injuring him.  With only 4-8 mile runs he should be fine.  I'll monitor it.  He ran about 25 miles this week and just complains of some hip soreness which is just typical soreness from increasing miles.  On the bright side, they are very cool looking shoes, and great toe-box space, and didn't seem to have blister problems.  I think they are a pretty great marketing idea, can really be successful for those who are caught up in the minimalist craze.  But for long distances on trails, protective shoes will result in much faster times and fewer injuries.  For those who love these shoes, just be careful.