A Glorious 5 Minutes…

I went to the track today. Don’t worry I haven’t completely lost my mind. I figured the track was a nice soft surface to attempt a mile on. There is good news and bad news.

The Bad: I didn’t make it a mile.

The Good: I had a glorious, pain-free 5 minutes of running and I loved every second of it. I loved breathing in the cold December air and the feeling of effortlessly bounding across the track.

As soon as I felt the slightest bit of discomfort, which happened to be a sharp pain starting just below the kneecap, I stopped and walked. It was just about 1/2 a mile. I walked a bit and did lots of lunges, squats and one-legged squats (as advised by the sports doc) and felt great. My dad continued to run and then we walked for a bit together. He suggested that next time instead of running on the track, I run around the turf field. I thought it was a great idea and figured why not try it now. I made it another lap around pain-free. I know 1/2-3/4 of a mile is not a lot and I have a long way to go but this 5 minutes of running did an amazing amount for my mood, which, in itself was completely worth it. This injury has been getting me pretty down, but between today and yesterday, I feel like I am actually making some progress. According to The Runner’s Body it is important to run as much as you can without pain and my doctor gave similar advice so I’m going for it :) I plan to try again tomorrow.

When I got home I iced, elevated, and foam rolled my leg. It has been feeling great and I had no pain walking down the stairs which is what I have been using to gauge progress.

There is no satisfaction without a struggle first.
~Marty Liquori, Middle Distance Runner

I Got the Referral!

Thank you for all your thoughts and advice with the doctor/pt issue. Good news…the specialist’s office was able to get the referral! I was able to keep my appointment and I saw the doctor yesterday evening. It was definitely worth seeing the sports specialist. He examined my knee, had me do various things (squats, hop on one foot, etc.), and did an ultrasound on both knees right there in his office. It was very cool to see. He explained everything to me and pointed out the different ligaments, tendons, etc.

Unfortunately, he got my hopes up that I might not have runner’s knee. He said usually the people he sees with runners knee have pain above the knee cap. Due to the location of the pain, he thought it was the insertion point of the hamstring into the knee cap or maybe a tendon, but the ultrasound didn’t show much, except a little water on the knee. Therefore, we are back to runner’s knee. Boo.

He recommended physical therapy, but was able to refer me to a place that sees mostly runners. I am happy he did not tell me I needed total rest. Instead, he prescribed strengthening exercises, (which I have been doing), but discouraged too much impact. I will make an appointment with the PT place and see how it goes. At least I know it isn’t something more serious, but I wish there was a better way to fix this…

He said to come back in 2 weeks if I do not seen improvement after some sessions with the PT. Not exactly what I was hoping to hear but he ruled out some things and I actually feel like we are making progress. Maybe doctors aren’t so bad after all…

November Training Review

Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time.  ~John Lubbock

I cannot believe it is already December. Seriously. No words.


Past Monthly Reviews
January: 85.75 miles
February: 58 miles
March: 68 miles
April: 95.22 miles
May: 74.6 miles
June: 97.17 miles
July: 109.43 miles
August: 139.86 miles
September: 114.43 miles
October: 51.50 miles

November Stats: 1.5 miles. Boo.
2010 Total Miles: 844 (so far)

Days Running: 2/30
Days at the Gym: 21/30 (Pilates, FIT, spin, lifting, and cross training) **A new record**
Longest Run: 1 mile :(
Days of Speed Work: 0
Number of Runs over 10 miles: 0
Number of Races: 0
Number of Rest Days: 8 (no gym or ride) 

Thoughts: Obviously this training review is pretty boring considering I did a mile of running this entire month. I was able to put more time in at the gym, and hopefully stayed in decent shape through cross training and strength training. This is the longest I have gone without running and I pray that the time I investing in resting paid off.


Looking Ahead: Hopefully in December I will be able to slowly increase my mileage so that I am ready to start training in January. I was considering not running at all until training but I think it is important to build back up slowly so that come January, I am not jumping straight into an intense training program. I don't plan to go crazy, I am only going to do whatever I can do without pain. That seems to be what is considered okay. I did an entire month off of running and now I am going to attempt to build back up. I do plan to see the physical therapist a couple of times and see what they have to say, but I have been doing quad strengthening exercises, foam rolling, etc.

Doctor Update
Thank you for your comments on my trip to the doctor's office...it was very frustrating, but I have some news. Since I jumped the gun and scheduled my appointment with the specialist before I obtained the referral, I had to call the office to cancel. My appointment was supposed to be tonight, so I wanted to call as early as possible. I called this morning, fully expecting to leave a message, but someone answered. I told her I needed to cancel and she asked if I wanted to reschedule. I explained the situation and asked how much it would cost to pay out of pocket. She told me it all depends on what I needed to have done. THEN, she asked if I wanted her to call my doctor to try to get the referral! I have no idea if they are going to go for it but I figured it was worth a try. I don't want to get my hopes up but I'm happy to have another shot at this...

Can you believe it is December?? How are you going to close out 2010?

This is why I don’t like doctors…

Today I caved and saw a doctor. A few days ago, I decided maybe it was a good idea to see a sports medicine doctor. My dad had a doctor who did his knee surgery, who is also a runner so I thought it would be the perfect fit! Unfortunately, I need a referral to see anyone other than my primary care physician so I had that appointment today and I made the appointment with the runner-doctor tomorrow. Easy, right?

Wrong. My pain-in-the-butt doctor would not give me the referral I needed. I’ve never had a problem with my doctor before. Heck I hardly ever go there. When I went in today she said, “wow, I haven’t seen you in awhile.” Apparently it had been over a year since I was last there. I consider that a win. As a teacher, I have this spectacular health insurance in New Jersey. My co-pays are extremely cheap and I can see almost any doctor I want. As long as I have a referral.

My doctor looked at my knees, ordered me an x-ray, gave me anti-inflammatories, and prescribed 6 weeks of physical therapy. “I really just need a referral. I already know the doctor I want to see.”

“I’m sorry we typically prescribe physical therapy before we refer you to a specialist.”

“But I have been doing the exercises. I am studying to be a trainer you know.”

“Yes well, lets see how you do after 6 weeks of pt.”

“Okay well can I run on it?”

“Sure.”

!!!!!!!!!!

“As long as you feel no pain.”

Exit office pouting.

Seriously? Don’t get me wrong. I have nothing against going to physical therapy. I plan to at least go to a few sessions and see what they say, but I didn’t need to go to a doctor to hear all of this.

Anyway, after a frustrating afternoon at the doctor’s office, I blew off some steam at the gym.

~20 min stair climber, fat burn setting
-level 12 (2 min)
-level 15 (3 min)
-level 17 (10 min)
-level 15 (3 min)
-level 12 (2 min)
`**towel off**
~60 min Pilates Reformer- this was a great way to cool off after the sweat sesh on the stairs.

I am meeting my mom for 5:30 spin tomorrow morning so after the gym I came home, ate dinner, showered, and prepped for tomorrow morning. I have developed a good routine to get me up and out the door in the morning:

~Set the coffee pot
~Pack gym bag with work clothes/make up bag
~Lay out gym clothes
~Set alarm clock

Time to relax on the couch!
~Go to bed early!