Short Run -- Not Good

I tried running today. This afternoon. Per PT's advice, stretched, warmed up slowly. Walked about 5 minutes easy, then walked faster for another 5 minutes. Then broke into a very easy jog.

Instant pain.

I lasted maybe 100 meters.

This is just a bit depressing. It's been too long. This week I will likely see an orthopedic knee guy. I suppose get the MRI. PT is pretty sure it's a torn meniscus. It has not improved at all.

At this point, I just really want to know what's going on with the knee. Give it to me straight, Doc. I can take it...

C-Ya

Cool New Toy

I just got one of the new Sprint Touch phones. It is wicked cool. This of course has nothing whatsoever to do with running. Except that I have a cool toy to play with while I'm NOT out there running.

Jake (physical therapist) was supposed to check out my knee again this morning, but was busy with another patient. I won't be able to get his opinion until Friday. More of the same stuff this morning at PT. I am getting tired of getting up at 5:15 to drive downtown.

Nothin much else.

C-Ya

OK, Maybe I Just Miss One

Never did get around to posting again last night. Maybe sometime this week I'll sneak in an extra post. I was out late last night at a gig. When I got home I was too tired to post again.

Not much to report though. Today I'll work out on the elliptical trainer and on the rowing machine. This "not running" is just really getting to me. It's hard watching the runners out along the Charles River. The weather is still great, but I can't run. Frustrating as hell.

Hard to motivate myself to get into the gym to workout every day. I like the cycling, but it's just not the same. But I've gained a few pounds since the injury. So I just get myself in there and do it. Whether I feel like it or not.

C-Ya

Missed Posting Yesterday

So if I post twice today does that count? How about once in the morning and once in the evening?

Just finished my physical therapy session a little while ago. The knee is a bit sore. The one-leg stairmaster workout was the killer today.

Yesterday I got out for a decent bike ride from Cambridge out to Lexington and back along the Minuteman trail. Definitely need to get full gloves for those brisk early morning rides. My cycling gloves have the fingers cut off -- the digits were freezing! It was really only about an hour ride, but I went pretty hard. Felt great.

Oh, and how about those Patriots?! [I'm really more of a Red Sox fan -- and that was one sweet World Series by the way...] But it was an exciting finish to yesterday's game -- down by 10 in the 4th quarter -- came back to win it.

C-Ya

Condolences to friends and family of Ryan Shay

Ryan Shay died today during the Olympic marathon trials. Just tragic. Thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.

Nothing much to report. I didn't do much today except replace the weather stripping around the front door. Weather wasn't too great today here in Boston -- I imagine not much better in NYC. But tomorrow should be a little nicer.

Good luck to all you runners out there tomorrow at the NYC marathon.


C-Ya

I Ran a Little Bit

A very little bit.

During physical therapy.

For one minute at a time.

Backwards.

Uphill.

My knee was a bit sore through most of the morning. Hard to see how I'm going to get to running by next week, but we'll see. Overall, it's felt better this week.

At PT, I've been doing a lot of weight training for the leg (plus all the other usual stuff -- stim treatments while exercising the leg, etc.). I've had to shift my normal waking hours. I've got to get into PT around 6:00 am so I can leave by 8:00 am (since I park my car on the street in downtown Boston -- if it's there after 8:00 am, it's gonna get towed).

So I'm feeling a little tired today.

C-Ya

Worst Injury Ever?

Might explain why I haven't posted in something like months. I'm still recovering.

And what am I recovering from? (Or more acurately, what am I NOT recovering from?) It appears to be a ...

torn meniscus

Oh hell.

So right now I'm in physical therapy. One of the best facilities in Boston. But if things haven't improved by the end of next week (when I will attempt to run again), I'll be going to an orthopedic (surgeon) who specializes in athlete's knees.

Yeah. Remember Noakes' ten rules for runners? One of them is "Avoid the knife." I'm not keen on even arthroscopic surgery. I don't care if Joanie had it just weeks before the 1984 Olympics and then went on to win the first women's Olympic marathon.

So anybody out there have experience with this kind of injury? According to my PT guy, assuming it's a minor tear (and this one is likely to be minor), I should have a complete recovery and be running 6 weeks after arthroscopic surgery. I do trust this guy. He's a marathoner and a marathon trainer (and the owner of a large physical therapy business in Boston). But talk of surgery does make me quite (understandably) nervous.

The odd thing about all of this is that my running buddy from work -- has the same type of injury.

Anyway, it is national blogging month (or something like that) -- so I'll be posting every day this month.

Better stay tuned -- there will be a surprise coming in a couple weeks.

C-Ya