Day 14223, & looks like chondromalacia of the patella...

So, I know that I was going to blog all about my marathon training.

Which road was rumored to be paved with good intentions?

Well, summer sucked. I don't do heat. Mentally, I hate heat. Physically, it would seem that my body isn't too fond of 90 degrees, either.

Then there was work. The never ending battle to be in control of my life has been a rough one, most recently plagued with some managerial drama that threatens my schedule every day. People often tell me how lucky I am to own my own business and dictate my own schedule. Ha ha! Mine is a schedule dictated by the whims of others, never by me...

And, let us not forget my new found activism. I just can't imagine where all the time goes. At least I don't have children.

Excuses, excuses...

Well, not really. A million things have gotten in the way of training. When does life ever go the way you plan it? Rarely, at best. We just have to trudge through the shit and move forward. I think I have done a pretty good job of that recently. I even ran my second half marathon last week, shaving 20 minutes of my previous time. It was a good race, despite my resolve to run it, as opposed to racing it. Sub 2 hours, check. Sub 9 minute miles, check? And I accomplished this while recovering from injury, again. A week of rest and my legs were good as new. The entire run felt great and it felt easy. Immediately, post run, however...

I did it though. I ran a strong run with a negative split. I finished ahead of the middle of the pack and I did it without really pushing too hard. While I stretched after, I tried to envision myself running the entire course again. Would I have the strength? How miserable would that feel? Seemed like something I could do, particularly if the reward was a breathtaking view of the California coastline and the promise of 26.1 beers with friends. Yeah, I can do it. Maybe not sub 4:00, but certainly sub 4:30.

And then, post stretching, I tried to stand up and walk.

So, yeah, I think I have runner's knee.

It started a several weeks ago in my left knee, but it went away pretty quickly. Two weeks ago, it returned in my right knee and seems to be settling in for a long, unwelcome stay.

I know what you're saying. Where did you study medicine? I answer with a simple: at the Google. You might also be saying, if you are one of those people, that it is only a matter of time and I am bound to screw my knees up with all the running. Well, maybe so, but I can't imagine a more serious issue would jump from one knee to the other. Additionally, I am guilty of all of the infractions listed as causes. And the symptoms? Dead on...

Meanwhile, I have 22 days until the marathon, my first. I am not going to miss it. The plane ride alone is worth the trip. I don't expect any possible circumstance beyond this coincidental equipment repositioning that will get me on Delta's 777LR. After all, Dubai is not on my itinerary. I need to run to justify my training, but I also need to justify the trip.

What to do... Three weeks. Let's see. Well, 7-10 days of that will be spent on the taper, leaving 12-15 days to train. Yesterday's planned 10 miles ended at an abrupt 8 because of the knee, resulting in a 2.5 mile walk home. The solution seems quite clear, and quite unappealing.

Elliptical machine.

No!!!

Looks like I will be going to the gym and spending countless boring hours on the sleep inducing, life sucking, elliptical trainer.

What doesn't kill me makes me stronger?

Hope so...

Day 13245, & a diagnosis, finally...

So, I went to the doctor today.

First, my appointment was at 1:30.  They said to arrive 20 minutes early.  I arrived 30 minutes early, and I had already filled out my new patient form online.  Needless to say, I was there PLENTY early.

1:05: I arrive and check in at the front desk.  I get more forms to fill out.

1:25: I get called from the waiting room, up to a desk.  She copies my insurance card, takes my completed forms, and sends me back to the waiting area.

2:05: I get called into the back.  Very exciting!!!  Only, then I am dropped off at yet another waiting room.  Granted, it was a nicer room, with CNN on the tv (vs. some soap opera,) and fewer people.  Maybe they just realized that I am better than most people and moved me to the fancy room?  There was an autographed Predators jersey in the new room.  Maybe I got to hang where the Titans and Predators wait.  Actually, I bet they never wait.

2:15: X rays, 6 of them... Then, back to the fancy room.

2:30: Finally, off to the exam room, where I see my X rays, a nurse, and the really cool "shorts" that I get to wear for the exam.  She leaves to I can get ready to model the shorts...

2:45:  Nothing...

2:55: The doctor comes in, asks me a few questions.  I answer: "Running, blah, blah, blah.  Work on my feet, blah, blah, blah.  Skiing next week, blah, blah, blah."  He moves my legs, bends my knees, looks at my ankles, feet, etc.

3:00:  The diagnosis!  Yea!  Finally!  Get ready for this...

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"Your X rays look good.  I think that you have just stirred things up down there...."

What?

Really?

2 hours for this diagnosis?

I walked out with no diagnosis, no prescriptions, no new knee brace, nothing!  Now, don't get me wrong, I am overjoyed that I basically just have shin splints in my whole lower leg.  I love that only need ibuprofen.  I am excited that he said all I need to do is stretch and start working them out again, though he did mention the word "slowly..."  I am just a bit upset that it took soooo long to get to what I have been clinging to all along.  I knew  there was a reason to avoid the doctor's office!

So, now that I have my clean bill of leg and foot health, I am off to the gym tomorrow for a bit of leg work.  But...

No running until after the trip!