holiday interlude

'Twas the week before Christmas and there was the sun, The weather was perfect but Dave didn’t run.

His knee was still sore but better each day, Yet he still couldn’t run, not yet anyway.

He took a week off from running is what I hear, In hopes that he’d heal and have nothing to fear.

His knee didn’t hurt all weekend long, But Monday morning came and it was the same old song

So another week off is what he’ll heed, And try this weekend to run like a steed.

I hope you all are enjoying the holiday season, And that maybe you find my poem somewhat pleasin’

I’ll post more about running on my blog, But for now I am going to drink egg nog.

I wish you all the best and hope you have fun, Merry Christmas to all and to all a good run!

the 7 year itch

A sort of non-running related post today... Today is my and my wife's 7th wedding anniversary. Though, back on December 7th was our 10 year anniversary of our first date. In the past 7 years, we have had our ups an downs, just like any relationship I imagine, but we get through it all. Not too unlike running a marathon, or running in general - where there are good runs and bad and times during a marathon when things look bleak, but yet somehow one perseveres. I think running really has helped give me the perspective in all things, not just marriage, to deal with the bad and get through it, so you get get to the good again. Here's to many more years of 'the good'...

Tonight we celebrate with a nice dinner at Agio's - a great Italian Restaurant in downtown Indy, followed by a relaxing stroll through downtown...

patellar tendinitis

" Patellar tendinitis is inflammation of one of the knee-joint tendons. Tendinitis occurs when tissue breakdown outpaces regrowth, and is caused by increased mileage, hills (especially downhills), and pace. Running through tendinitis will make it worse and prolong your recovery, says Davis. But treated early, it can heal in a few weeks. Here's how: cross-train, ice, wear a patella strap, take anti-inflammatories, stretch, and do exercises to strengthen the joint and quadriceps, such as leg extensions."

This is my diagnosis of what is wrong with my knee. It makes sense based on my running leading up to the point when the pain started. The knee is feeling marginally better, so I am thinking it is healing itself, but I do not see any running for me for the rest of the year... at least not until the pain is altogether gone. This will force me into stretches and cross training - both of which I have needed to focus on better anyway... I have until the beginning of January until I will need to start training for the Flying Pig Marathon, so I will determine then if I will definitely be running it or not...

I have also decided to spend some time catching up on my reading. I stopped by the library on the way home last night and picked up this:

I am hoping to distract myself from my non-running with a good book...

confessions of an addict

Okay, I am being a little dramatic... or am I?

It has been 3 days since I ran and my knee is not feeling much better. It doesn't hurt when it is not in motion, it doesn't hurt if I press on it or anything around it. I cannot run until my knee feels better - in fact, I can't really walk without it hurting (if I walk too fast). I am trying to not worry about reaching my mileage goal for the year - no big deal actually. I am surprisingly not depressed, but perhaps it hasn't hit me yet. I would like to get on with running, I need it. I feel a little empty without it. Even with everything else I have to do (work, finish Christmas shopping, wrap gifts, miscellaneous family stuff, etc.) I feel like I am not doing anything.

Then my thoughts start going to the questions like: "Why now?" "Is it serious?" "Should I go to the doctor?" "What do I do if he says no running for a long time?" "What if he says I need surgery?" Obviously my mind jumps the gun a bit - and if it had it's own stomach, it would have an ulcer by now, but I am coping. One day at a time. But man, I need a running fix really bad...

i don't knee-d this...

I woke up this morning and my right knee was a little sore. I had noticed during my run yesterday that it was a little sore, but it wasn't sharp, it didn't affect my running, so I continued. It wasn't the first time I felt something like that, so I didn't pay much attention to it. But this morning, it was different. I stretched it gently and flexed it only to hear it making a snapping noise... not good. I decided to test it out on the treadmill to see how it felt.

Well... I got a total of 3/4 of a mile and the pain was too much for me to take. So, no running for me today, and maybe none tomorrow. Maybe I just ran too much during the week... though I did have Wednesday off.

I will try again tomorrow morning if it feels better, but otherwise will rest, ice and repeat as necessary...

Not the way I want to end the year and hopfully I can still reach my 1,000 mile goal...