I will conquer this

Next attempt at being able to run with a lame knee problem: buying a brace thing. M and I looked at a bunch of differnt supports and braces. We decided that maybe the problem is not my IT band after all. This was based on a chart we saw at a sports store that described pain up the outside upper leg. Most of my pain has been right around the knee and down into my shin and calf more than upwards. So we went ahead and bought a knee strap that goes under my kneecap. Perhaps my pain is most in the knee cap and tendons, or something etc.

Tried it out today. As soon as I put it on my knee felt stronger and this seemed like a good sign. So I went for a run. Ran/walked about 2.5 miles. I always feel good for about the first mile, and then the pain kicks again. About the same this time, but now the pain is in different places in my leg. Ironically I felt pain on the outside of my upper leg. And now there's pain in the back of my knee too. Wondering if I should get one of those full knee supports that works on everything.

Icing my knee now and then heading to dinner with M where I will discuss my latest type of pain and decide what to try next.

Luckily this knee strap was only $7 at Walmart and the full knee supports are about $10-$12.

On another note I realized today that there are not many weeks left until the 10K and only two more in addition to that before the half... Lord help me!

crazy

So I ran again on Monday. Just a short route. Knee still hurting. I'm sad. It still hurts today, just when I walk. I'm going to go to the sports store to get a strap they make for knee pain. Maybe that will help. M looked at some stretches and stuff online and said he was going to add to my routine some things that will help.

It's strange but somehow I'm not so freaked out about the races in April. Like for some reason I think I'm just gonna be able to run 13 miles even though right now I can't run any.

Someone tell me I'm crazy...

sad face

I should change the name of the blog to "Just Kidding, I'm Not Running". That would be because my knee pain became unbearable. I believe it's my IT Band and everything I see online says to rest. LAME.

I actually miss running and when I see people on the street, I'm jealous. C says I'm a real runner b/c real runners hate being told to rest. I've also looked up some stretches and other ways to help the pain. Hopefully by next week I can start some runs. Work my way back up slowly.

I hope...

H-M TD 10 & 11

Tuesday was a rest day and good thing because I was at work for almost 12 hours.

Today was run 2 or cross. I ended up cross-training at the gym with M. Rode the bike again, this time for 20 min at a more intense level. Felt good. Ready for the 3 mile run and strength training tomorrow. M's gonna do the strengthening with me again. I'd never get thru those damn wall sits and planks without him doing them with me :P

H-M TD 08 & 09

So this weekend, M and I bought an exercise ball & 10 lb. weights. He made me do a horrible strength work out that made me want to cry. But it was kinda fun on the ball. Kinda. I do feel like I'm getting stronger and even used some of the crap I put myself through during my run ("Remember doing that horrible wall-sit? Remember how you almost cried? Running is cake compared to that!!") That was Sunday.

Today I ran 3 miles in 33:05. Pace = 11:01. That's my best 3 mile yet. Yay :) The weather was rainy and a comfortable cool. I was able to run longer before taking my usual stretch break.

Feeling good at the beginning of Week 2 of training. Also excited about a rest day tomorrow :D

H-M TD 07

I SURVIVED THE FIRST WEEK OF TRAINING!!!

Ran close to 4 miles today (like 3.85) because I forgot one little leg of my route, but it wasn't enough to make too much difference. Time was like 40:55 (with 1:30 stetch and fix my hair and take off my fleece break). Pace was about 10:37. The weather was beautiful and M met me at the pond with D, our friend's dog who we are watching today. So much fun.

Today wasn't nearly as bad as I thought and I just kept telling myself, it's only 1 mile more than a 3 mile day. And I'm sure next week I'll be saying the same about the 5 miler... it's only one mile more than the 4 mile day.

I could feel all the muscles I have been working, like in a good way. This is pretty cool, I have to admit. I think I'm finally getting a taste of the runner's high!

Tomorrow... stretch & strengthen... can't wait!!

H-M TD 06

Cross training day. Good thing too because we had freezing rain and ice last night so everything was all slushy and wet and gross.

I was M's guest at the campus gym since I'm old and no longer a student. Rode the bike for 30 minutes while M erged. 6.4 miles at a moderate pace I guess. Wasn't killer but wasn't easy either. Then M showed me how to erg. It's... interesting. Not sure I could do it again on my own without him showing me the right form again first.

Ready for the long run tomorrow... 4 miles. M and I are thinking about a 4 mile hike. I know it's not the same, but it's gotta be kinda close to it and it's better than doing nothing. We'll see. I may end up just doing the run.

Week 1 almost done!!

PS I'm sore