Training for a Belt Buckle

My right knee has been hurting me since the Park City Marathon.  That worries me a little bit for 2 reasons:  1) my right knee is my ‘good’ knee (the left one is the one that always is injured) and 2) I have never had a knee injury on the inside (not under the knee cap) of the knee before.

I tried to take it easy while running last week (ok – most of the time I tried), but it just seemed to get worse and last Saturday’s run on the trails pushed me over the line.  Sunday morning I woke up to a very sore knee and it had waked me up off and on during the night when I straightened the leg.  I took Sunday and Monday off from any leg workouts, put a neoprene brace on the knee, started anti-inflammatories (thank heavens for Vitamin I) and did some icing.  I also scheduled an appointment with a Sports Medicine doctor.

Today the knee was feeling somewhat better, I could go up and down stairs without too much pain.  Signs the knee is healing.

This afternoon I met Dr. Jamie Longe.  It is always nice to have a doctor that actually appears to understand the stresses of marathon running and training and doesn’t automatically tell you to not do what caused the injury.

Diagnosis:  Tendonitis in the hamstring attachment, Bursitis, and a pinched Meniscus.  The Meniscus is the concerning factor.  If it starts swelling or the pain gets worse, then we have to consider a torn Meniscus.

Treatment:  Anti-inflammatories 3x a day.  Topical anti-inflammatory ointment 4x a day.  Ice for 20 minutes after working out and before bedtime.  Stretching after running – he gave me 3 variations of a quadriceps stretch and 3 variations of a hamstring stretch to do.  Running is ok. I just need to be careful and not run on trails for a while and not do exercises that cause that knee to have to pivot quickly. Brace it as needed for support.

That being said – with the doctor’s permission – I am going to go for a run.

PM - 1 mile warmup walk with dog. 3 miles running to and back from Gold's Gym (body was not very happy with me).  1 hour hard back, core, biceps.  1 mile cooldown with dog.

I just got back into town about an hour ago.  I've done some walking on this vacation and maybe two small running sections of less than a half mile each.  Nothing very intense.  Just walking up my brother's driveway (granted its the steepest and longest driveway I have ever seen) left me hobbling and in a knee brace.  

Today is the first day in almost two weeks that I have not been in pain and tonight is the first time I have been able to take off my right running shoe by hooking the other shoe behind the heel without that turning motion of the knee causing shooting pains.

I made the decision to stop running marathons for the rest of the year, which means missing Top Of Utah, St. George and the Pony Express 50 miler.  Too many injuries and illnesses.  I am in a rest phase now and considering how my training will be adapted.  I still plan to do the I Can Tri on Saturday, but will stop if anything causes pain. 

Steve Ashbaker - I definitely want to talk to you about training ideas.  I have some thoughts and they involve dropping my mileage down and building up again using the heart rate monitor over the winter and focusing on half marathons and shorter until St. George next fall (guaranteed entry).

More later..... Missed you guys and girls!

Speed walked 2 miles with the dog this morning.

Yesterday was frustrating - sat down at my desk for the first time in a week and a few minutes later started having a muscle in my back spasm.  I had to be very careful how I moved in order to not have serious problems.  Spent the night on a heating pad and it seems to be better today, but I can still feel that muscle.

Knee was hurting again this morning - not painful, but I could feel it.  Tomorrow is the I Can Tri in Sandy - my first triathlon.  I have not really trained for it, so don't expect anything great.  It will just be good to be moving again.

Oh - and on another positive note - I haven't had a coughing spell in 2 days (knock on wood). Maybe the virus/allergy is over again for the year!

PM Update - going to take a rush trip to San Diego this weekend with my sister, so will not be doing the I Can Tri tomorrow.

Starting Over

Today was my first real workout in 2.5 weeks.  1 mile walking warmup. 3 miles on the treadmill running. .25 walking cooldown.

45 minutes upper body workout.

Stretching and icing.

One of the trainers at the gym did a few tests on me and doesn't think I tore the meniscus, so hopefully the rest is helping the leg to heal.  Felt rusty on the treadmill, but nothing really painful.

Finished up 3 consecutive days of 8 hours of meetings in a row.  Tired of sitting in a windowless conference room.

Came home from work this afternoon and walked the dog for 2 miles. Then I went and worked at the temple. I got home about 9 and ran 3 miles, working on better form and pushing my pace slightly.

Now to try and wind down and hope it doesn't take hours to fall asleep.

Ran 3 miles with the dog this morning.  More later....

Walked the dog for 1.1 miles as a warmup. Dropped her off and ran 3.25 miles, pushing the pace. Got the dog again and did 1.5 mile walking cooldown. Stretched the legs good and iced.

Knee hurt on about a 2 until the turnaround of the run. After that I didn't notice it anymore.

Walked one mile before work with the dog.

Another mile after work with the dog.  Ran 3 miles to the gym and back - stopping to do 1 hour of upper body and core weight training.  3 miles is too short - my legs barely warm up and I am done.

I plan to get a run in after work today - either before or after working in the temple baptistry.

I'm excited - my daughter redid my 'running blog' with a new look and feel. Check it out: http://adventures-in-running-with-maurine.blogspot.com/.  Even more exciting - they will be in Utah for a couple of weeks after October 14th!

I am not a happy camper tonight.  Came home from work intending to get a run in, then go do my temple shift.  My son was at my house, so I told him I would take a quick shower after running and we could grab dinner on my way to the temple so I could see him for a few minutes.

As I started my run, I realized the knee was a little sorer than the previous day. Turned onto 7th East and within the first 1/4 mile, some stupid black lab ran across the road (don't know how it didn't cause an accident) and scared Twilight to death.  She ran in front of me and I sprained my knee trying to avoid stepping on her and face planting.  Then, I had to hold Twilight in the air and the other dog by its collar until the owner could come across and get it.  It took me another half mile of running to be able to run without limping.  In hind site - I should have quit right when I got hurt - but I was stubborn and annoyed.  At my turnaround, I realized  how painful the knee was getting, but still had to get home somehow, so kept jogging.

Now, I am icing the knee and will wrap it up soon. Called into the temple because I won't be able to stand on it for 3 hours straight. Ordered some pizza to share with the frat boy.

Stupid dog owners.

Oh - and after running the dumb puppy for 3 miles, she came in the door grabbed a toy and wanted me to play fetch with her.  I told her to go away and come back next year.

Going to take today as a rest day to let my knee heal from the reinjury last night.  It hurts to straighten the leg fully.  Wearing a brace and using anti-inflammatories.

I am very frustrated right now.  Started out tonight to run 3 miles with the dog, but the back of my knee was hurting enough that I gave up after 1/4 mile.  Took a different route, but finished up my 3 miles.  

If I don't walk too fast, walking doesn't bother the right knee. Straightening the knee fully pulls a lot in the back and the stress from running appears to aggravate the hamstring.  Think I'll focus on walking and biking for a couple of weeks.

Off to roll, stretch and ice.

I took a couple of days off trying to let the knee heal (and work on my talk).  However, I could tell by yesterday that depression was setting in (I'll blame Marion for sending me whine but no cheese). Couldn't hardly drag myself out of bed this morning.

I forced myself to walk the dog for a mile before work.  After work, we did another 2 miles, pushing the pace some.  Then I walked uphill 2 miles to the Gold's Gym on 13th East.  Did some quad exercises. I'm going to try and do those 3 days a week and work the rest of the leg muscles 1 day per week to see if I can get the quads better balanced with the hamstrings.

45 minutes upper body workout.  15 minutes on the stationary bike. Started feeling the knee a bit then, so called it quits.  On the way home I alternated running 100 steps with walking 50 steps. If I didn't stride long or push the pace I was able to keep the knee pain down or below a 2.

It feels so good to be all sweaty again.

I'm hoping to get a walk or run in later today (probably after my temple shift tonight), but might skip it.  I have been really sick the last two days and getting through work is about all I can handle.