Running in Life's Slow Lane

I finally feel like I have something to post.

Today I ran very slowly on the relatively flat streets of the neighborhood and managed to cover 2 miles without experiencing incredible pain in my left knee. I could still feel the weakness but nothing I couldn't run through. After the run I immediately wrapped up the knee with an  ice pack and avoided the huge post-run pain that I have been suffering. A few twinges and a bit of stiffness but much improved over my Monday and Tuesday runs.

Honestly, at this point I am just so excited that I completed 2 miles without wimpering from knee pain that the slow 13:25/mi pace seems like a huge victory.

Location: Lawton, Oklahoma

So I gave it another week of rest and the knee is still painful while running. Not sure where to head now except into the doctor's office.

2.14 mi and then OUCH!

I was doing okay for about 1.25 but my pace was too fast so I took a break and walked 0.25 mi. Starting back up I kept the pace around 11:30/mi (still too fast but better) and made it to 2.14 mi before the nuisance pain in the knee exploded into soul-crushing pain. I stopped and tried to walk it off and stretch it out but the pain was too much to even allow any stretching. I hobbled home in defeat and will not take ibuprofen, wrap ice on the knee, oh ... and get ready for the long night traveling to Coweta with the band for tonight's playoff game.

Location: Chilly Lawton, Oklahoma - wind chill - 29F

I was completely prepared to hobble across the finish line but managed to run the entire distance without terrible pain.

1.0 mi @ 12:03/mi
1.0 mi @ 12:14/mi
1.0 mi @ 11:13/mi
0.1 mi in 1:08 (approx)

The knee was definitely sore at the finish line but I was not crippled. As you can see by the times I definitely did not make any attempt to run fast at the outset but did finish up the last 0.5 mi at faster than 10:00/mi pace. Once I was that close to the finish I let the legs stretch out.

I have felt a few twinges in the hours since the run. Ibuprofen seems to have helped. With any luck I can put in a few cautious miles tomorrow.

This marks my unofficial 1 year anniversary as a runner. Teresa and I had not been running long last year when we set out sights on being able to run the 2008 Frost Ya' Fanny race. Yea for us!

Location: Lawton, Oklahoma

2.0 mi in 25:26 at 12:41/mi burning 181 calories.

Splits ---

12:17

13:07

At the outset I had intended to cover 2.5 mi. I was doing well at the 1.33 mark as I passed my house on a loop through the neighboorhood. At 1.66 I was feeling plenty of pain in the knee so I made a U-turn and hobbled home.

I'll rest another day or so and try again.

Location: Lawton, Oklahoma

3.45 mi in 44:47 @ 12:59/mi burning 419 calories.

Splits ---
1.00 mi in 10:45
1.00 mi in 13:50
1.00 mi in 13:45
0.25 mi in 04:49 (19:15/mi)
0.20 mi in 01:35 (07:53/mi)

Ran 1.0 mi to start and felt quite a bit of pain at the end so I stopped to walk. Ended up alternating 0.25 mi walking with 0.75 mi running. At the end Teresa and I did a push after our last walking segment.

Strangely, my knee did not hurt during the "sprint" nor has it bothered me since. So maybe I am getting the ITB stretched when I am taking the longer strides during the sprint? I am keeping the appointment with the orthopaedist scheduled for 08 Dec. I'll keep running with the idea that I'll stay injured and the orthopaedist will have something to look at when I get there.

Location: Lawton, Oklahoma