Greater than any report I have to give, the most excellent thing about this post is that I have a race report to give at all. After almost 6 months of injury recovery, I have finally been able to slide into a few races over the past couple of weeks. Although I am still not fully recovered, I am really at a stage of strengthening. With an Achilles injury, because I treated it properly by taking off completely from running, I now have to re-strengthen my right lower leg and calf muscle. It has been so long since I've been able to push off with my right toes and land mid-sole, that my leg has weakened and atrophied to some extent. So here I am finding ways to push past this part of recovery.
Prior to the onset of my injury back in February, my last race was a 5K called Roses En La Playa. On that cold winter morning, along with a couple a hundred other brave souls, I fought the wind, endured the course and completed it in 18:16 (my watch time). Shortly after that day, I had to say goodbye to racing and running for a while.
Last night I competed in the Nite Moves 5K race which is on the same course as Roses En La Playa. It was the perfect set up to see where I'm at compared to where I was in February. I couldn't help but to hope, as I do with every race I enter, that I would somehow exceed my expectations. I almost always hope for a PR unless the course is too challenging. So although I wasn't ready to run another PR, nor ready to race for that matter, I still hoped.
So here's how it played out: The race is an evening event and Wednesday evening was near perfect. It was a tad hot for me (mid-70's) but not bad for a 5K. Wind can be a factor on this course but the air was fairly calm. Over 200 runners toed the narrow starting line. The starting line, and really the whole course, is too narrow for such a crowd, but so it was. I always station myself two people or more back from the line using the logic that I figure at least 15 of these runners are faster than me so they should start ahead of me. Of course the trouble is that 80% of the people who line up at the front are way too slow to be up there. It is a frustration that I have to deal with. The start was too crowded and faster people converged on the slow "front of the line" hogs and it made for tripping, elbowing, pushing, and panic. It's hard enough for me to maintain the right speed at the beginning of a race, but with this situation I was at the mercy of everyone around me.
It took most of the first mile, a couple of times running in the grass to get around people, to get into a rhythm and to begin to think about the race itself. It was about this moment when I saw Kent just in front of me. It occurred to me that Kent just ran a 36 minute 10K a few days before and he always runs the race I wish I had. So I thought, "Cool. I'll just hang with Kent." So I slowed a bit and kind of hung just behind him but darn it, there was a female just ahead and I began to argue with myself to hold back. I slipped past Kent, rationalizing that he's probably just taking it easy today and isn't going all out. But as I pushed past, Kent wisely tells me to slow down (it is after all 1 1/2 miles uphill). I said, "Ok." But that girl right there ... right there ... does not need to be there, she needs to be behind me.
I did not do a good job of slowing down when Kent told me too, and before long it took its toll. Once we crested the hill and made the turn-around to go back down, Kent increased his speed and pulled away. I spent too much already and couldn't go with him (this happened at Roses En La Playa too). I did however get through the first two miles in under 6 minute pace which gave me at least a chance to break 18. And I did get past that female runner. The last mile and 1/2 are downhill and I was hoping that I'd feel relaxed, smooth and in control, but the truth is my broken fitness due to the layoff was lurking at my door.
There was one last motivation. I had to beat Cuyler. Cuyler is this amazing 14 year old swimmer on the Santa Barbara Swim Club and he's been blazing this course all summer (this race occurs weekly over the summer). John, my husband (who is Cuyler's swim coach) had talked smack to Cuyler on my behalf and set up this vicious rivalry. I had to beat Cuyler. And oops!! there he was just ahead of me and I was going faster than he was. I past him with about 1/2 mile to go and eeked out a whispered, "Go Cuyler." I really meant, "Stop running Cuyler. It's futile. You'll never beat the old lady Crawford." Would Cuyler even know what "futile" meant? Anyway, I said, "Go Cuyler." Yah. You could imagine what he did. Teenager boy. He went. He passed me back up, but I stayed stealthily close in case he showed weakness.
I finally came to the final hill down to the finish line and ahead of me I spotted a female (not Drea, she had already finished), and there wasn't suppose to be any other female ahead of me except Drea. I thought maybe she was just running along with another as a spectator. She was just a child (12 or 13'ish) and I had no idea where she came from. It's out and back. How could I have not seen her. People were cheering for her so she must have been in the race. Bummer, now I'm going to have to go for it. The last thing I felt like doing was running harder but I did. I had it in me and I sped past her in the final yards ... and almost scooped up Cuyler as well ... but alas, he did beat old lady Crawford (by a modest 3 seconds). I was satisfied with my 2nd overall female finish, and then I had to laugh when I found out that there was a kid's mile that had taken place which explains where the "young female" came from. But hey, whatever it takes to scoot me along a few seconds faster, I'll take it.
My finishing time: The all important finishing time which would reveal where I am now compared to where I was prior to my injury: 18:17 (by my watch). I have spent no time on the track and have only recently begun tempo runs again and still have pain, so I was pretty happy with that 1 second off my pre-injury time. Of course Kent finished in 17:41 which is where I WANT to be but I'll have to be patient. If I had run a little smarter, would I have run a better time, maybe beat Cuyler? Possibly. Every race is a lesson. Cuyler better watch his back.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Friday, August 19, 2011
"First Race Back" Under my Belt
Wow, has it really been a month and a half since the last blog? I started a new job recently as a PE coach for a local elementary school and it is mostly full-time, so I've had to do some adjusting. It is such a blessing to be able to help kids work on physical fitness ... if only they realized how important it is to start young and stay on track. It is challenging and exhausting ... just like running.
I have competed in two recent races and it is amazing to be able to run hard again. I did Nite Moves last week (both the 1K swim and 5K run), and this week I did the Westmonster 5K. Although I haven't fully recovered from my Achilles injury, I didn't feel pain during the races. I did feel it afterwards though. My biggest challenges regarding getting back into racing is that my injured leg still lacks strength so at times I experience severe cramping in that calf muscle, and I haven't been able to do any speed work yet because it is still just a bit too much. I have entered these races feeling unprepared but look at them more as steps toward getting back to where I should be. The great part is being surrounded by a huge and dedicated community of runners and athletes who are so encouraging.
By way of race reports, last Wednesday was the first time I ever participated in Nite Moves. For those who aren't familiar with Santa Barbara's Nite Moves, they are a series of races that go throughout the summer every Wednesday evening. There is the option of doing a 1K open water swim, a 5K run, or a combination of both (aquathon). I did the aquathon. So fun. I am a much slower swimmer than runner so I inevitably came out of the water with the urgency of having to catch up. Getting the dreaded wetsuit off was the biggest challenge of the night but once I got on the run my rhythm smoothed out and I had a great time out on the course (out and back course, up hill on the way out, downhill on the way back). It ends up being a 3.5 mile race so is just a bit more than 5K. I think I had a smile on my face because I was running ... in my Newtons ... fast ... with no pain. It was good to get that "first race back" under my belt. Never mind the fact that my calves were sore for three days from the shock of what I asked of them.
The Westmonster 5K was an evening race as well and was a beautiful cross-country course all through the Westmont College campus in Montecito. The campus is breath-taking ... and hilly ... so therefore the race was breath-taking too. There was a great turnout of around 200 athletes including college and high school students. The course was tough with some significant hills and a variety of surfaces (asphalt, dirt, gravel, grass, all-weather track). I think it would be fair to say that the track was the only level ground on the course. Because of a lengthy warm-up, I again can boast that my leg felt perfectly fine during the run. Afterwards is another story but that's all a part of recovery. I think I had to ice three different body parts that night but felt good by the next day (an ice bath would have been more efficient). There was great participation from the local running group and from what I saw everyone had a great race.
There are a lot of local events coming up in the next two weeks and I'm hoping to compete in most of them. This weekend is the McConnell's 10K. This coming Wednesday is another Nite Moves and I will do the 5K run only this time, and the following weekend are the Santa Barbara Triathlons (long course and sprint course). I am going to be doing the all-women's sprint course.
It's hard to come back from an injury. Not only do you have to heal but you also have to go through the struggle of getting back to race-ready shape. It's always an uphill climb, but as runners know, going up hill makes you stronger. It's worth it to keep climbing.
As far as training, I have still been careful to cross-train between running days. I have been swimming twice a week and weight training once a week. I have begun doing intervals and hard running on the treadmill and will soon be back out on the oval. I include a long run and a tempo run each week and if needed, a lighter paced mid-distance run (all outside in the open air). With each opportunity to train I am so very thankful that I am able to.
I have competed in two recent races and it is amazing to be able to run hard again. I did Nite Moves last week (both the 1K swim and 5K run), and this week I did the Westmonster 5K. Although I haven't fully recovered from my Achilles injury, I didn't feel pain during the races. I did feel it afterwards though. My biggest challenges regarding getting back into racing is that my injured leg still lacks strength so at times I experience severe cramping in that calf muscle, and I haven't been able to do any speed work yet because it is still just a bit too much. I have entered these races feeling unprepared but look at them more as steps toward getting back to where I should be. The great part is being surrounded by a huge and dedicated community of runners and athletes who are so encouraging.
By way of race reports, last Wednesday was the first time I ever participated in Nite Moves. For those who aren't familiar with Santa Barbara's Nite Moves, they are a series of races that go throughout the summer every Wednesday evening. There is the option of doing a 1K open water swim, a 5K run, or a combination of both (aquathon). I did the aquathon. So fun. I am a much slower swimmer than runner so I inevitably came out of the water with the urgency of having to catch up. Getting the dreaded wetsuit off was the biggest challenge of the night but once I got on the run my rhythm smoothed out and I had a great time out on the course (out and back course, up hill on the way out, downhill on the way back). It ends up being a 3.5 mile race so is just a bit more than 5K. I think I had a smile on my face because I was running ... in my Newtons ... fast ... with no pain. It was good to get that "first race back" under my belt. Never mind the fact that my calves were sore for three days from the shock of what I asked of them.
The Westmonster 5K was an evening race as well and was a beautiful cross-country course all through the Westmont College campus in Montecito. The campus is breath-taking ... and hilly ... so therefore the race was breath-taking too. There was a great turnout of around 200 athletes including college and high school students. The course was tough with some significant hills and a variety of surfaces (asphalt, dirt, gravel, grass, all-weather track). I think it would be fair to say that the track was the only level ground on the course. Because of a lengthy warm-up, I again can boast that my leg felt perfectly fine during the run. Afterwards is another story but that's all a part of recovery. I think I had to ice three different body parts that night but felt good by the next day (an ice bath would have been more efficient). There was great participation from the local running group and from what I saw everyone had a great race.
There are a lot of local events coming up in the next two weeks and I'm hoping to compete in most of them. This weekend is the McConnell's 10K. This coming Wednesday is another Nite Moves and I will do the 5K run only this time, and the following weekend are the Santa Barbara Triathlons (long course and sprint course). I am going to be doing the all-women's sprint course.
It's hard to come back from an injury. Not only do you have to heal but you also have to go through the struggle of getting back to race-ready shape. It's always an uphill climb, but as runners know, going up hill makes you stronger. It's worth it to keep climbing.
As far as training, I have still been careful to cross-train between running days. I have been swimming twice a week and weight training once a week. I have begun doing intervals and hard running on the treadmill and will soon be back out on the oval. I include a long run and a tempo run each week and if needed, a lighter paced mid-distance run (all outside in the open air). With each opportunity to train I am so very thankful that I am able to.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Hi. My Name is Cindy. I'm a Runnaholic
So a man walks into Starbucks and asks, "So ... how's your leg?" "Hmmm," I replied, "It's improving but still not quite there." I went on to explain that I have been able to run more with less pain but the pain is still there. Keeping in mind that this gentleman, a regular at the Starbucks I worked at, had already informed me multiple times that "You can't run through that injury," he then looked at me starkly and said ... "You are addicted to running."
A keen observation but yet a statement that can only come from the lips of a non-runner. Should I be offended? Was his comment derogatory? Was he jealous or did he think me a fool? I found the comment out of place. After all, clearly I have not been "running" through this injury (I took 6 full weeks off and have only run intermittently since), but at this point in the recovery I find that running helps in the healing. My explanation to this phenomenon is that use of the tendon helps with blood flow which otherwise is almost impossible to come by.
So I said (to myself), "Thanks for the enlightenment. Because of you I am inspired to reform my wicked ways. From now on I will refrain from my obsession of running, become part of the middle aged junk food packing, sedentary status quo ... like you. Today, instead of a healing run, I will attend a 12 step meeting and begin my life anew." In reality I simply smiled and refrained from speaking my mind.
With certain injuries, the greatest value gained is patience. In the meantime I am enjoying every one of the opportunities I have to cross-train and am thankful that I can at least do this.
My obsession, addiction and love of running was renewed as I attended the Semana Nautica 15K as a spectator. My husband John, as well as the Moms in Motion team, which I have been working with, competed alongside many other special runners from our community and communities from afar. It was a brilliant day and everyone participating in the race seemed so happy in their addictions. It was a wonderful event from all vantage points and I yearned to partake of the painful pace. It allowed me to feel close to what I love to do.
The term "addiction" has such a negative connotation. It implies an unhealthy attachment to something. It's funny how that term is rarely applied to things such as ... sugar, or caffeine, or bananas, or American Idol. The truth is I have an attachment to running, but it is not unhealthy. Do I need it? Yes, but I also need sleep, water, air, food. Running is healthy in 100 different ways and not all of them are physical benefits. I also benefit spiritually, emotionally and mentally. Running has given me a way to avoid the vices that otherwise would have filled that void, and my chances of escaping the fates of my mother and father who both died in their forties of lung and heart disease respectively, is multiplied exponentially. And I enjoy it. I truly enjoy all that running is.
So as I continue to heal, I am able to run up to four times per week now, and although I still land heavily on my right heel and do not yet have the mid-foot strike and airy lift that I am used to, I can still labor through it. The pain is still there but it is less and it resolves more quickly afterwards. I continue to mix it up with other activities, including stadium steps at the city college, but soon I will be back on the track and back on track. Take that and stuff it in your coffee cup "Mr. Addicted to Starbucks."
Hi, my name is Cindy. I am a runnaholic.
A keen observation but yet a statement that can only come from the lips of a non-runner. Should I be offended? Was his comment derogatory? Was he jealous or did he think me a fool? I found the comment out of place. After all, clearly I have not been "running" through this injury (I took 6 full weeks off and have only run intermittently since), but at this point in the recovery I find that running helps in the healing. My explanation to this phenomenon is that use of the tendon helps with blood flow which otherwise is almost impossible to come by.
So I said (to myself), "Thanks for the enlightenment. Because of you I am inspired to reform my wicked ways. From now on I will refrain from my obsession of running, become part of the middle aged junk food packing, sedentary status quo ... like you. Today, instead of a healing run, I will attend a 12 step meeting and begin my life anew." In reality I simply smiled and refrained from speaking my mind.
With certain injuries, the greatest value gained is patience. In the meantime I am enjoying every one of the opportunities I have to cross-train and am thankful that I can at least do this.
My obsession, addiction and love of running was renewed as I attended the Semana Nautica 15K as a spectator. My husband John, as well as the Moms in Motion team, which I have been working with, competed alongside many other special runners from our community and communities from afar. It was a brilliant day and everyone participating in the race seemed so happy in their addictions. It was a wonderful event from all vantage points and I yearned to partake of the painful pace. It allowed me to feel close to what I love to do.
The term "addiction" has such a negative connotation. It implies an unhealthy attachment to something. It's funny how that term is rarely applied to things such as ... sugar, or caffeine, or bananas, or American Idol. The truth is I have an attachment to running, but it is not unhealthy. Do I need it? Yes, but I also need sleep, water, air, food. Running is healthy in 100 different ways and not all of them are physical benefits. I also benefit spiritually, emotionally and mentally. Running has given me a way to avoid the vices that otherwise would have filled that void, and my chances of escaping the fates of my mother and father who both died in their forties of lung and heart disease respectively, is multiplied exponentially. And I enjoy it. I truly enjoy all that running is.
So as I continue to heal, I am able to run up to four times per week now, and although I still land heavily on my right heel and do not yet have the mid-foot strike and airy lift that I am used to, I can still labor through it. The pain is still there but it is less and it resolves more quickly afterwards. I continue to mix it up with other activities, including stadium steps at the city college, but soon I will be back on the track and back on track. Take that and stuff it in your coffee cup "Mr. Addicted to Starbucks."
Hi, my name is Cindy. I am a runnaholic.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Yoga Bear and no more Boo Boo
No piiiicinik baskets here! We have embarked on the world of yoga and pilates. Note in photo number one (well, the only photo), Rip demonstrates a perfect example of the downward, reclining cat, while John struggles in his upward dog pose. The Yin and the Yang if you will.
My yoga instructor had to, ahem, encourage me in my sideways tilt, and my lame knee won't allow me to do the basic "legs crossed" pose, so I modified. Wow, is your leg supposed to bend like that? Why do I want to do the "pigeon?" I had to explain: "I'm a runner." "Oh," he says, "say no more. Just keep coming to yoga, and you might want to try to roll out your fascia with a foam roller before class." I'll keep that in mind. I really will.
Let's not just add yoga, let's add pilates as well. I've heard that's good for your core and butt. Whew! Need that for sure. Not that it was totally too easy, or slow to progress, but after the first 15 minutes of "warm up" moves, I was feeling a little sleepy. That is until I woke up this morning with sore everything. Really? Really? It wasn't too bad when we swung our leg forward and backward a few times (boring!) but then, without rest or recovery, she made us hold it out behind and pulse (ouch!) and then without rest or recovery, out to the side, front circles, back circles, pulses (are you kidding me?), and then without rest or recovery, she MADE us contort our leg the other way ... more pulses. That did wonders for my hip. Then all over again on the other side. Pilates are totally cool.
Without a doubt, the stretching and the natural form movements have already helped me. My hip/low back irritation, inflammation stuff is so much better. My knee shows very little swelling and is no longer an issue. As I watched the yoga instructor kneel down to turn on the stereo, I noted that he bent his knees, both knees totally and comfortably. I can't remember the last time I could do that. Flexibility is a big part of overall wellness and fitness and I am looking forward to getting my downward pigeon stork working for me.
Cross-training continues but I was able to run a fairly brisk 11 miles last week on a slightly sore knee and still screaming achilles tendon ... but with each run it feels just a bit better and since I don't run that often, I am giving it time to heal. Tonight I will run in the pool and do a set of 6 sprint 50's swim and some ab work and I will consider it a great workout.
I can't wait until I am able to get on the track for intervals or compete in a race, but until then I am trying to enjoy all the facets of fitness.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Just Another Rainbow, Just Another Pot of Gold
It can be challenging to write a blog about running when you haven't been able to do much running. That's no excuse though, because there is always so much in the peripheral that can be written about.
Like for instance I could write about the few runs I have been privileged to do amidst injury recovery. Each one (I can only mange one to two runs per week) is a blessing for which I am truly thankful. One recent run was with a group of running buddies from San Diego on Memorial Day. I miss running the challenging hills of San Elijo so when I have the opportunity, I try to take it. There are always a few willing to join me (or actually a few that let me join them) and it is a blessed reunion and a time to catch up on everyone's recent races and events of life. Thanks for letting me join you guys and I look forward to the next one.
I have also managed to do a Saturday run for the last 3-4 weeks which has climbed in mileage up to 10 and holding. I figure, as part of my recovery mindset, that I will not attempt to go farther than this, but will do my best to enjoy the friendly 10 miles. I crave more miles and I crave faster miles, but I am learning to be satisfied with reality. In time everything will come back together for me and I will be a smarter runner.
While I have been encouraged by a healing achilles that is a bit less painful than it was, I have found myself dealing with another issue. Perhaps it is an issue of a compensating injury but I can't know for sure. About two weeks ago, on a Wednesday, I was at the dark, concrete prison of a gym sweating it out on the "cardio" machines. I spent 6 miles (according to the computer read out) on the Stairmaster, and then another 3+ miles doing 1/4 miles intervals on the Elli. I adopted these modes of cross-training about a month ago to give me reprieve from the pool (swimming and aqua-running). Cross-training is supposed to be helpful, less impacting, and supportive of healing. But on this Wednesday something didn't feel right afterwards. I went to the track that evening to coach the Moms in Motion track workout and did a few easy laps during their warm up. I felt awkward in my gait, heavy on one side, and generally much more out of sorts. And it wasn't just a stiff achilles.
I later realized my right knee (which is the same leg as my achilles injury) was generally significantly swollen. I did not injure my knee so I knew it was manifesting a different problem. Since I am apt to self-diagnose, I soon learned (because it started sceaming at me) that my low back/right hip was tight, locked up, out of whack, tweaked ... these are official medical terms. In my assessment, I had a flare up of some sort in this area which tightened muscles (maybe the piriformis) which in turn pulled my knee out of proper alignment enough to cause inflammation there as well. I have a notable leg length discrepancy (functional leg length discrepancy) so I figure ultimately this is the culprit.
So the tight swollen knee on this day made my gait feel off but did not cause me pain. However, the issue worsened until I not only had tightness and swelling, but also weakness, a sharp pain that ran the length of my posterior knee on occasion which was no doubt a pinched nerve somewhere in the mix, and it began to feel as though it was slightly out of joint/alignment and would, if I was lucky, pop back into place. Then, as if that wasn't enough, it became painful to run. At first it only "bothered me" during running, but this last 10 miler ended in complete pain and an inability even to bear weight. I dragged my leg back the last mile just so I wasn't stranded away from my car. My kinesiology tape totally came off during the first 6 miles and left my supported knee unsupported and loosey-goosey. Let me vent - the stupid tape does absolutely no good if it's flapping in the wind. It gets you half way through your run and leaves it up to you to figure out how to get through the second half. It's a JOKE! :) That's about as "venty" as I get.
All of this knee junk sort of peaked out this past Saturday and has since begun to subside as the inflammation in my hip has been resolving. It was a chain reaction in the function of my right side and I sought to deal with the foundation of the problem as best I could.
At this moment I'd be happy to have to deal only with an achilles injury, but to have another problem on top of that has been unspeakably frustrating ... especially considering that I haven't even been running much. This happened while cross-training.
I think there is only so much a runner can take. I am going to begin yoga this week and I'm encouraged that this will help me in a plethora of ways. My muscles are likely imbalanced and tight from poor biomechanics due to an altered gait, and this has increased the discrepancy in my leg lengths, which has caused inflammation in my hip and back, which has resulted in tightened muscles and tendons ultimately affecting my knee. I need my knee darn it.
Ice, Aleve, Traumeel, elevation and tape have been my close companions, and I've taken to almost constant stretching, twisting and torquing. I see improvement. Yes I realize that some sort of medical attention, Chiropractic adjustment regimen or physical therapy would be smart, but for the most part, those are not options for me right now.
Wow. I was kind of hoping to focus on the positive, so I hope there is something positive in all of this. At the moment I am thankful to feel the knee/hip stuff resolve, and I'm glad I am finally motivated to begin yoga (something I've wanted to do for years but just haven't). Another great thing is that John will do yoga with me so it will be something wonderful to share together.
See, this whole thing is a big, beautiful rainbow with many pots of gold awaiting me.
And soon I will be running pain free again. Yes.
Like for instance I could write about the few runs I have been privileged to do amidst injury recovery. Each one (I can only mange one to two runs per week) is a blessing for which I am truly thankful. One recent run was with a group of running buddies from San Diego on Memorial Day. I miss running the challenging hills of San Elijo so when I have the opportunity, I try to take it. There are always a few willing to join me (or actually a few that let me join them) and it is a blessed reunion and a time to catch up on everyone's recent races and events of life. Thanks for letting me join you guys and I look forward to the next one.
I have also managed to do a Saturday run for the last 3-4 weeks which has climbed in mileage up to 10 and holding. I figure, as part of my recovery mindset, that I will not attempt to go farther than this, but will do my best to enjoy the friendly 10 miles. I crave more miles and I crave faster miles, but I am learning to be satisfied with reality. In time everything will come back together for me and I will be a smarter runner.
While I have been encouraged by a healing achilles that is a bit less painful than it was, I have found myself dealing with another issue. Perhaps it is an issue of a compensating injury but I can't know for sure. About two weeks ago, on a Wednesday, I was at the dark, concrete prison of a gym sweating it out on the "cardio" machines. I spent 6 miles (according to the computer read out) on the Stairmaster, and then another 3+ miles doing 1/4 miles intervals on the Elli. I adopted these modes of cross-training about a month ago to give me reprieve from the pool (swimming and aqua-running). Cross-training is supposed to be helpful, less impacting, and supportive of healing. But on this Wednesday something didn't feel right afterwards. I went to the track that evening to coach the Moms in Motion track workout and did a few easy laps during their warm up. I felt awkward in my gait, heavy on one side, and generally much more out of sorts. And it wasn't just a stiff achilles.
I later realized my right knee (which is the same leg as my achilles injury) was generally significantly swollen. I did not injure my knee so I knew it was manifesting a different problem. Since I am apt to self-diagnose, I soon learned (because it started sceaming at me) that my low back/right hip was tight, locked up, out of whack, tweaked ... these are official medical terms. In my assessment, I had a flare up of some sort in this area which tightened muscles (maybe the piriformis) which in turn pulled my knee out of proper alignment enough to cause inflammation there as well. I have a notable leg length discrepancy (functional leg length discrepancy) so I figure ultimately this is the culprit.
So the tight swollen knee on this day made my gait feel off but did not cause me pain. However, the issue worsened until I not only had tightness and swelling, but also weakness, a sharp pain that ran the length of my posterior knee on occasion which was no doubt a pinched nerve somewhere in the mix, and it began to feel as though it was slightly out of joint/alignment and would, if I was lucky, pop back into place. Then, as if that wasn't enough, it became painful to run. At first it only "bothered me" during running, but this last 10 miler ended in complete pain and an inability even to bear weight. I dragged my leg back the last mile just so I wasn't stranded away from my car. My kinesiology tape totally came off during the first 6 miles and left my supported knee unsupported and loosey-goosey. Let me vent - the stupid tape does absolutely no good if it's flapping in the wind. It gets you half way through your run and leaves it up to you to figure out how to get through the second half. It's a JOKE! :) That's about as "venty" as I get.
All of this knee junk sort of peaked out this past Saturday and has since begun to subside as the inflammation in my hip has been resolving. It was a chain reaction in the function of my right side and I sought to deal with the foundation of the problem as best I could.
At this moment I'd be happy to have to deal only with an achilles injury, but to have another problem on top of that has been unspeakably frustrating ... especially considering that I haven't even been running much. This happened while cross-training.
I think there is only so much a runner can take. I am going to begin yoga this week and I'm encouraged that this will help me in a plethora of ways. My muscles are likely imbalanced and tight from poor biomechanics due to an altered gait, and this has increased the discrepancy in my leg lengths, which has caused inflammation in my hip and back, which has resulted in tightened muscles and tendons ultimately affecting my knee. I need my knee darn it.
Ice, Aleve, Traumeel, elevation and tape have been my close companions, and I've taken to almost constant stretching, twisting and torquing. I see improvement. Yes I realize that some sort of medical attention, Chiropractic adjustment regimen or physical therapy would be smart, but for the most part, those are not options for me right now.
Wow. I was kind of hoping to focus on the positive, so I hope there is something positive in all of this. At the moment I am thankful to feel the knee/hip stuff resolve, and I'm glad I am finally motivated to begin yoga (something I've wanted to do for years but just haven't). Another great thing is that John will do yoga with me so it will be something wonderful to share together.
See, this whole thing is a big, beautiful rainbow with many pots of gold awaiting me.
And soon I will be running pain free again. Yes.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Deleted but Not Out
I had to make the final decision to withdraw from the Masters Track and Field World Championship competition, a decision I was still dimly hoping I wouldn't have to make. Now when I perouse the registration status of my events, I no longer see my name. I officially withdrew and have been deleted. With just a bit over a month to go before the meet, I still am not able to manage any type of quality run, and a lesser run leaves me limping for several days thereafter. The timing of injuries will always and forever baffle me.
I won't deny that I am fully disappointed, but in the back of my mind I ponder that I may have other opportunities along these lines in the future. Afterall, I am now a proud owner of a U.S. Olympic competition uniform and a member of USATF, and I have a sweet renewed interest in track and field competition which happens to be quite popular in Santa Barbara.
I am now focusing on training smart, though most of it comes in the form of cross-training. I was attempting to run approximately every other day (only able to do about 3 runs per week), but even that plan has proved to be too much. I had a nice, though painful 8 mile run last Saturday, and followed it up with a harder 6+ mile run on Monday, but have been in pain ever since. So I refrained from the ground and hit the elliptical and water all the more but with some amount of frustration and anger. If I am able to manage it, I will go for 10 miles on solid ground tomorrow. That's just to maintain my sanity I think.
When random people see me limp (and trust me, I try not to limp) and ask why, my explanation it seems is always met with "advice." Some will say, "Oh, you should try icing it." Yah! Duh! Others will say, "Ohhhhh. Gee I'm sorry. Do you think it's ruptured? Be careful." Whatever!! The one that hit me this week was, "Oh, those are bad. You know you can't train through that. You have to let it heal." I let them know of my 6 week lay-off which left me no more healed than the day it happened. I have had a San Diego running partner, ultra-marathoner genius, recommend and offer a trip to his therapist whom he swears by. At my first opportunity I hope to try and see, and pray for a miracle. Thank you for that Mike!
Anyway ... more than ever, I hate seeing people run when I can't. And I despise the pain that plagues me when I try. Feeling a bit like Achilles. Is it not the most ironic and bizarre revelation that the Achilles tendon was named after the mythological hero Achilles who's only weakness was his "heel."
I'm thankful for a strong training partner and coach in John. He is the epitome of positive and keeps the swim workouts nice and hard, and inspires me with his growth as a runner. I haven't even had the opportunity to lament the inadequacy of swimming in comparison to running. The swims have just been so good and I've been able to stay fit. I've recently added the elliptical into my routine and have found that an interval session on that bad boy can get my heart rate up to 170 bpm. Drippy, drippy, sweaty, sweaty. In time I will spend more time on the solid ground, but until then, plastic/metal, and H2O will suffice. It could always be worse, right?
I've been deleted from the competition, but I'm far from out.
I won't deny that I am fully disappointed, but in the back of my mind I ponder that I may have other opportunities along these lines in the future. Afterall, I am now a proud owner of a U.S. Olympic competition uniform and a member of USATF, and I have a sweet renewed interest in track and field competition which happens to be quite popular in Santa Barbara.
I am now focusing on training smart, though most of it comes in the form of cross-training. I was attempting to run approximately every other day (only able to do about 3 runs per week), but even that plan has proved to be too much. I had a nice, though painful 8 mile run last Saturday, and followed it up with a harder 6+ mile run on Monday, but have been in pain ever since. So I refrained from the ground and hit the elliptical and water all the more but with some amount of frustration and anger. If I am able to manage it, I will go for 10 miles on solid ground tomorrow. That's just to maintain my sanity I think.
When random people see me limp (and trust me, I try not to limp) and ask why, my explanation it seems is always met with "advice." Some will say, "Oh, you should try icing it." Yah! Duh! Others will say, "Ohhhhh. Gee I'm sorry. Do you think it's ruptured? Be careful." Whatever!! The one that hit me this week was, "Oh, those are bad. You know you can't train through that. You have to let it heal." I let them know of my 6 week lay-off which left me no more healed than the day it happened. I have had a San Diego running partner, ultra-marathoner genius, recommend and offer a trip to his therapist whom he swears by. At my first opportunity I hope to try and see, and pray for a miracle. Thank you for that Mike!
Anyway ... more than ever, I hate seeing people run when I can't. And I despise the pain that plagues me when I try. Feeling a bit like Achilles. Is it not the most ironic and bizarre revelation that the Achilles tendon was named after the mythological hero Achilles who's only weakness was his "heel."
I'm thankful for a strong training partner and coach in John. He is the epitome of positive and keeps the swim workouts nice and hard, and inspires me with his growth as a runner. I haven't even had the opportunity to lament the inadequacy of swimming in comparison to running. The swims have just been so good and I've been able to stay fit. I've recently added the elliptical into my routine and have found that an interval session on that bad boy can get my heart rate up to 170 bpm. Drippy, drippy, sweaty, sweaty. In time I will spend more time on the solid ground, but until then, plastic/metal, and H2O will suffice. It could always be worse, right?
I've been deleted from the competition, but I'm far from out.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Getting Perspective
Ok, so I cried through the whole movie because so much of it related to my life. Only my life has different struggles and they seem so much more managable than having to live/surf with a missing arm. But still, sometimes I feel like a runner with a missing leg.
After a 6 week "cross-training only" layoff from running, I tried to slowly reintroduce my legs to running. As previously posted, I did a slow but mostly painfree 6.5 mile run a week ago. My next step was to attempt a light track workout a couple of days later. This went "ok" but did produce some pain. Because of the events I am training for, I went back to the track two days later for another workout. This one produced full and intense pain and I left the track limping and questioning why. "Why" a lot of things: Why is it not healed? Why did this happen when I desperately wanted to compete in this once in a lifetime race? Why do I run? On top of that I pondered how totally "done" I am with isolated cross-training. I want to run. I want to not hurt. At the moment I can't even walk without a limp. Regardless, I attempted another 6.5 mile run this past Saturday, and again a 6 mile hard run on Monday. I finished both in pain and today I am limping again.
No, none of this is as tragic as a shark attack, but the lesson of perspective has resonated with me this week. Looking at my situation up close leaves it blurred and I am unable to see the blessing in it. There is a blessing in everything. There is a reason; there is a way through; there is an end to the pain; there is another race waiting for me. I may not recover in time for the Masters World Track and Field Championships. If not, than it is what it is. What else can be done? My little world and my little life is still much bigger than any single solitary competition. Right?
So I am limping today but my perspective is fresher. I will do what I can do. If I can run tomorrow I will. If I can't than I will swim or aqua-run. By the way, doing hard aqua intervals and hard sprint swimming intervals is very near the perfect replacement for running. My fitness has truly remained intact ... just waiting for the tendon to heal. In the meantime, I will keep a healthy perspective.
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