Cursed Realm of the Faceless Ghost

December 22, 2024

15% off for Fast Running Blog members at St. George Running Center!

Location:

Provo,UT,

Member Since:

Apr 07, 2010

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Other

Running Accomplishments:

5K - 17:11 (Cougar Run)

10K - 34:35 (Deseret News)

15K - 57:33 (Utah Running Club)

1/2 - 1:22:26 (Mountain View Trail)

50K - 4:22:31 (Sapper Joe)

Short-Term Running Goals:

Sub-2:45 at Saint George Marathon

Win the Antelope Island half marathon

Long-Term Running Goals:

I'd like to run the Angeles Crest 100 at some point. And I'd still like to go sub-4 at a trail 50k. Other than that, I'm open to suggestions.

https://www.strava.com/athletes/4808912

Personal:

<iframe height='160' width='300' frameborder='0' allowtransparency='true' scrolling='no' src='https://www.strava.com/athletes/4808912/activity-summary/184689bbf831149f2053e60709730c07651232d3'></iframe>

<iframe height='454' width='300' frameborder='0' allowtransparency='true' scrolling='no' src='https://www.strava.com/athletes/4808912/latest-rides/184689bbf831149f2053e60709730c07651232d3'></iframe>

I was a competitive cyclist for years. In 2009, after racing in the Tour of Utah, I decided I had plateaued as a cyclist--I could continue to improve, but I wouldn't break through to a new level. So, I started looking for a new challenge.

I thought that challenge would be mountain biking, but I'm a terrible bike handler. I married Catherine in January 2010 and a couple of weeks later I entered the SLTC Winter Training Series with her. A couple of weeks after that I decided I'd like to run ultras, so I signed up for a couple of 50Ks to get started.

Those first races came and went, with varying results. I was looking forward to running more and possibly pushing into the longer distances, but I injured my knee in June 2010 and I've never been consistently healthy since.

I started law school in August 2010, which meant less time for training. In June 2011, Baby Elliott was born, which meant even less time for training. But she's worth it.

Baby Nora joined us in October 2013, with the same effect on training as Elliott (who, incidentally, is no longer a baby).

I (finally) finished school in April 2014 and now I'm an evil corporate lawyer in Salt Lake. I have no illusions that I'll ever get back into the shape that I once was, but I'm perfectly at peace with that. I still have many goals to accomplish and many years in which to do it.

Click to donate

to Ukraine's Armed Forces

Miles:	This week:	0.00	Month:	0.00	Year:	0.00

Thu, Jun 24, 2010

Total Distance

7.00

AM: According to the email I received yesterday, there's a spot for me at Logan Peak this weekend, which makes my knee problem that much more annoying. Although I already knew I shouldn't run, I moved my appointment with the doctor up with hopes that he would tell me to go ahead. He didn't.

Apparently, I have "a textbook case of runner's knee," or patellofemoral pain syndrome. In other words, I ran too hard down too many hills with too little recovery and pounded the #$%@ out of the cartilage behind my right kneecap. Actually, that's a bit strong--so far I've just pounded the heck out of it. The remedy is rest (but not complete rest, by golly), physical therapy and stability shoes (possibly with orthotics).

I'm on board with the first two (only because insurance will cover the therapy), but I'm not so sure about the third. I don't want to go all Born to Run on anyone--I'm not worried that the shoes will hurt me--but I'm skeptical that the shoes will really make a difference. And I'm not sure I want to drop 70 bucks on a pair of Mountain Masochists to find out, especially when my Cascadias have plenty of life left in them. Please let me know if you have an opinion one way or the other.

Anyways, the doctor says I'm probably fine running on the track, and he says I can use the stair stepper, although he doesn't really endorse it. But so far the stair machine seems to leave my leg feeling better (plus, Speedgoat), so I think I'll keep using it. I'll also throw in regular miles on the track so I don't forget how to run. I'd like to join my friend on his Timp run/scramble next Friday, so that will serve as an indicator of where I stand. If my knee handles it, I'll ease back into my regular routine. If not, I'll revise my plans accordingly.

As for this morning's workout--another hour on the stair machine for a sweaty good time. According to the machine, I ascended well over 4,000 feet, but who knows how accurate that is. According to the same machine, my effort was equal to 25K in an hour, and we all know that probably isn't happening for anyone ever and certainly not for me right now. I'll just put down three miles and call it good.

PM: I ran four easy miles on the track with Tigger. An hour later my knee seems to be holding up fine, so that's encouraging. I'm still tentatively planning on racing the Gruesome Grizzly on Saturday to test my knee (and my speed).

30:28

Barefoot Miles: 1.00	Brooks Launch Miles: 3.00

Weight: 167.00

Comments

From jtshad on Fri, Jun 25, 2010 at 10:37:05 from 204.134.132.225

I agree with the rest/cross training aspect to recover from runner's knee. That is what I did a few years ago and it worked. I would also strengthen the quad to help protect your knee. I agree with you about the shoes, I don't think moving to a stability shoe will help as much as he says. I would advocate trying to run with less of a heal strike and really focus on good form in the recovery from the injury, my issue came on when I was fatigued and lazy with my form.

Good luck with the recovery and the runs.

From Nan on Fri, Jun 25, 2010 at 14:02:34 from 174.51.250.151

I agree with jtshad too. Focus on your form and add some strength training drills/lifts instead of buying big clunky shoes. Also roll those quads out on the foam roller like theres no tomorrow. If you can find an Active Release Technique therapist or even just a good deep tissue massage therapist, that should help too.

From Cody on Fri, Jun 25, 2010 at 14:06:06 from 69.9.58.17

Bummer about the injury and the fact that Logan Peak is out for you. It would've been great to join up again. Get well for Speedgoat.

From jun on Fri, Jun 25, 2010 at 16:53:33 from 66.239.250.209

I will agree with the shoes, but not necessarily the track. Dirt is as soft as track. Just find some that don't have too big of inclines.

From Scott Wesemann on Sat, Jun 26, 2010 at 03:10:06 from 75.165.252.204

That really sucks man. I'm dealing with my own knee issues right now and it is sooo frustrating. Good luck!

From Bryce on Sun, Jul 04, 2010 at 12:09:39 from 174.52.190.220

I stumbeld across your knee issue on one of your more recent posts and reaad back through to see what happened. I have had the same kind of knee issues all spring myself. I totally agree with the form advice and have found when I can maintain solid form and a mid-foot strike it really helps, especially on downhills where I tend to overstride and heel strike the most. I have read alot on the barefoot thing and the "born to run" stuff too, and tended to agree with most of it, to the point I threw out my really expensive custom orthotics, or at least I thought I did. About a week before Squaw Peak my knee was so bad I thought the race was out. Digging through some old gear I found my orthotics, I thought what the heck and put the right one (bad knee) in my shoe and noticed an immediate diference, even walkng. Ran with in at Squaw, all pretty good, continue to use it most of the time and it makes a differnce, when I try to run without it, knee tends to be more sore. For me it supports my right arch, keeps pronation to a minimum and takes pressure off my knee. Maybe I'm not "born to run" but it got me back on the trail and I was ready to throw it in and pick the bike back up too. Just my 2 cents, dont know if it will help. Good luck, hope your back soon, though Speedgoat may make you want to give up running forever! ha.

Add Your Comment.

Keep it family-safe. No vulgar or profane language. To discourage anonymous comments of cowardly nature, your IP address will be logged and posted next to your comment.
Do not respond to another person's comment out of context. If he made the original comment on another page/blog entry, go to that entry and respond there.
If all you want to do is contact the blogger and your comment is not connected with this entry and has no relevance to others, send a private message instead.

Debt Reduction Calculator

Featured Announcements

Most Recent Entries:

New Kids on the Blog
(need a welcome):

Lone Faithfuls
(need a comment):

Recent Comments: