I decided last week that my knee/quad pain was enough. I took the plunge and began physical therapy. Although it hurt, it helped. And yesterday I was able to bike and get back on the treadmill for a 2-miler. I'm starting back to baby steps, but with just under eight months to go, I've got plenty of time. I need to be smart and take it slow and be careful. Tomorrow marks my second PT appointment and I am actually looking forward to it.
On another note, I am going to be making an announcement here and on my facebook page in the next few weeks concerning my Boston Marathon experience. I will pass along that information by Labor Day or the week after. I am awaiting some information regarding this announcement that is out of my control. It's a rather exciting adventure that will only enhance the Boston experience so stay tuned.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
A Runner's Life
I am convinced that the runner's life consists of moving from one injury to the next. Often the injury bug comes at us out of nowhere. We can go a year or more with very little issues. And sometimes we can get caught into a pattern of overcoming one pain and falling right into another.
The way my year was going (pretty much for the past YEAR), things seemed to be in rhythm. I was racing more than I ever had and I was not experiencing any pain or issues. The only thing I noticed since late spring was that my training run times were slipping a bit. I found it harder to run at the faster paces that I was seeing just prior to and after the Chicago Marathon in October. Perhaps that was the sign I ignored that my body was breaking down.
Granted, it could have been worse and I'm not out of the woods yet but for 24 days (July 17 - August 10) I battled what I though initially was runner's knee. Turns out I have had a case of quadriceps tendinitis. Possibly one of the more irritating injuries I've sustained because it really didn't limit my walking much. Actually, I could also run pain free. But the day after the runs is when I would pay.
Finally, after completing the Citizen's Helping Citizen's 5k in Indiana, PA on July 17 I had reached the breaking point (figuratively). I knew that the time had come to shut it down. As always, I struggled with staying active. Even the more simple weightlifting moves and core exercise moves engaged the quads and the knee. By far it has been one of my more frustrating injuries. I simply had to wait.
Finally, last Monday I was pain free and had freedom of movement for the first time in awhile. I decided to start slowly with a 2 mile treadmill jog and then followed that up with a 2.5 mile treadmill jog on Thursday. Last night I couldn't help myself and went to run the Richland Community Days 5k where I placed first in my age group and 13th overall with a time of 21:15. A slow time for me, but the injury and a very hilly difficult course explain that.
Still, the pain is back (although not debilitating) and I will trudge forward carefully over the next few weeks. I feel I'm going to have to back off of racing a bit through the fall and make sure that I am fully overcoming this injury before proceeding. With Boston just a few days over EIGHT months away, it's not crunch time yet.....but it's getting closer. i
Ahhhh, the life of the runner.
The way my year was going (pretty much for the past YEAR), things seemed to be in rhythm. I was racing more than I ever had and I was not experiencing any pain or issues. The only thing I noticed since late spring was that my training run times were slipping a bit. I found it harder to run at the faster paces that I was seeing just prior to and after the Chicago Marathon in October. Perhaps that was the sign I ignored that my body was breaking down.
Granted, it could have been worse and I'm not out of the woods yet but for 24 days (July 17 - August 10) I battled what I though initially was runner's knee. Turns out I have had a case of quadriceps tendinitis. Possibly one of the more irritating injuries I've sustained because it really didn't limit my walking much. Actually, I could also run pain free. But the day after the runs is when I would pay.
Finally, after completing the Citizen's Helping Citizen's 5k in Indiana, PA on July 17 I had reached the breaking point (figuratively). I knew that the time had come to shut it down. As always, I struggled with staying active. Even the more simple weightlifting moves and core exercise moves engaged the quads and the knee. By far it has been one of my more frustrating injuries. I simply had to wait.
Finally, last Monday I was pain free and had freedom of movement for the first time in awhile. I decided to start slowly with a 2 mile treadmill jog and then followed that up with a 2.5 mile treadmill jog on Thursday. Last night I couldn't help myself and went to run the Richland Community Days 5k where I placed first in my age group and 13th overall with a time of 21:15. A slow time for me, but the injury and a very hilly difficult course explain that.
Still, the pain is back (although not debilitating) and I will trudge forward carefully over the next few weeks. I feel I'm going to have to back off of racing a bit through the fall and make sure that I am fully overcoming this injury before proceeding. With Boston just a few days over EIGHT months away, it's not crunch time yet.....but it's getting closer. i
Ahhhh, the life of the runner.
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