Old Man Still running

Small improvments.  Can walk 1/4 mile at full speed under 15:00 pace. Pain about a 2-3.  More than that still seems like too much too soon.   People who saw me last week have asked me if I'm all better because I'm not limping anymore.   Missed workout this morning.  Seems like things are better if I do some eliptical workout.

In my recovery, it feels like I'm 4 days removed from running a 100-miler.  But really it is 29 days.   I finally can jog downstairs again without a problem.  That is a good milestone.

Down day.  Regressed a little, probably the effects of the cortisone shots wore off.  Don't know.

Getting used to the idea that I won't run for several months.  Getting involved in other things.

Planning to help out with the Buffalo Run later in the month.  Should be fun.

I can't win.  Now I have a new problem.  Looks like it is pain from the Sciatic nerve.  Starts in the back of the knee, shoots up the hamstring to the butt.   No pain sitting, but walking now both the lower leg and upper leg has pain.   Well at least this pain keeps my mind off the other.   Maybe I should just bust my arm and then all this leg pain will be really minor.

Improvement, I think.  The nerve problem is really a big worry because that doesn't seem like it is something easily solved. (I start getting visions again of being a cripple for life).  However, it appears that NSAIDs are helping.  Also, a sleeve on the knee may be helping.  If NSAIDs are helping, then perhaps it is just something still swelling up pushing against the nerve.  Boy, when it gets going, pain shoots higher than a 5 and I get thoughts about getting those crutches back.  Climbing stairs pushing on the big toe really gets it screeming up and down the leg.   But....then there are times when I get up and walk and things are much better, good enough that I'm about ready to start doing walks again.

I think that the knee still is a little loose with fluid.  I bet if they just drained some fluid that things would really speed up.   If I have to go in again, I'll suggest that.  I'll try to tolerate a sleeve for now to keep things tighter.  I couldn't use that earlier because it would push on the area below the knee that was really sensitive.

Crasy dreams continue.  Last night I was running two 100-mile races at the same time.  I have no idea how that is possible.  I think they were the Bear 100 and Cascade Crest 100.  The courses overlapped and required me to run segments and then backtrack to run the other course.  I think I finally gave up and woke up.

More small improvements.   The nerve problem calmed down.  Perhaps my morning workout helped, kicking the leg for a mile in the pool and then deep massage of the leg.  Now the nerve pain in just in the lowest part of the leg in the calf.  That is much better than shooting up the upper leg.

I ran for the first time in 5 weeks.  Well kind of.  On the treadmill I could do a jog-limp at 12:00 pace.  There is no way I could have done that two weeks ago, so a little victory.  If I supported about 50 pounds of my weight on the treadmill arms, I could run with very little pain.  So, I have a new strategy.  I'm going to go on Biggest Loser and lose 50 pounds.  That will get me down to 125 and I'll run mostly pain free.

Two more miles with the dog.  I think my limit is 1.5 miles now.  Sounds pathetic, but that is a big improvement and I averaged 20:00 pace.   Last Saturday it was 30:00 pace.   I did use a trekking pole.  Helps a bunch.