I've been waiting to write because who wants to read about someone just whining? I know there are lots of people who haven't been able to run for much longer than two days. I really feel for them. It makes me sad. MY not running makes me worried, sad, impatient, and, well, a bitch.
When I was in Colorado visiting my brother after the birth of Elliott back in March, we went out for a run. I was a little worried because my IT band/knee was acting grumpy. I guess I must have been complaining/analyzing a bit too much. John tried to tell me I needed to learn how not to focus on the pain. Wow! Suddenly the biggest pain was not in my knee. He definitely hit some kind of nerve. I was instantly defensive and definitely mad at him. Wasn't I the one who had two babies without any drugs (and one that was 12 hours of back labor!)!! Wasn't I the one who took no pain meds after my knee surgery following my first marathon (which was a road marathon back in '86 that I ran after only training in the fields - but that's another story). Hadn't I run several other marathons, two 50k's and all the training that goes into that?!
I think I was defensive because, perhaps, you always wonder if you're being tough enough. Perhaps it has something to do with having a DNF after my name in my first 50 mile attempt. Perhaps it was cause it was my brother saying it and I can get mad at him. I think I really was just trying to figure out whether it was a pain that was ok to run thru or whether I should stop. I guess I could have decided this silently and spared John what might have just seemed like whining. This run was not important enough to push through when I needed to redeem myself at Pinelands in May. Turns out, my knee was not grumpy running a faster pace. Did I find that out trying to leave my brother behind? I don't remember. Whatever, I wasn't sidelined at all.
Sunday at Bradbury I took a hard fall. It hurt a lot initially, but, that was just the impact. I was able to run the 3 or so miles back and thought that was that. I was a bit surprised at the stabbing pain the next day when I went down steps. I still had no clue that I might be injured. I put running clothes on and headed to Portland with Sam. By the time Four got to the Back Cove, I'd already discovered I couldn't run. We decided to walk - perhaps it would loosen up (even though I knew it was not at all that type of pain). It was a beautiful day and Four made me feel like he was enjoying the walk and didn't resent not running. Unfortunately, I experienced the same stabbing pain in the knee if, while walking, I twisted to look at things not dead ahead. There was also a pain in my hip/butt, but the knee pain was so much sharper that I couldn't really analyze my ass.
Alright, obviously I needed to take that day off. Tuesday I made plans to run with Linda. I had my doubts; the pain was still there on the steps and also surprised me at odd times during my day. But, I wanted to believe it was fine. I didn't run more than a handful of steps before bailing. Crap. Linda headed out and I headed back to the house and immediately went to the basement to find out if I can at least use my Nordic Track skier. I think that was the best piece of equipment we ever bought. I don't really enjoy it, but I've always been able to use it through any injury. Thankfully, that statement is still true. It helps maintain the cardiac fitness and uses similar muscles to running so I can make myself use it.
My iPod makes this a lot more tolerable than it used to be. It's bad enough being injured, but then giving up running outside to tracking in our dark, damp, disturbingly messy basement. Ugh! Maybe someone can help me on this; Why do people wear iPods on runs? It's so great for the tracker because it isolates me from my environment; insolates me from the activity itself. I have tried it some runs, but I love running and the outside. Why would I not want to be a part of it?
So I got in 45 minutes of fairly rigorous exercise. I'm sure my arms will feel it. It used to be my quads would be sore after the tracker, but, it seems that was when I was a road runner. I was always going to keep doing one or two tracher sessions a week once I was recovered since it strengthened the legs so well. Ha! I'd need to be more disciplined for that. Trail running seems to have helped there (how isn't it better?!). My legs feel fine (muscular-wise).
Mindy and Ian probably have a good bit of soreness this week :-) but that's the kind that you earn. Each painful step reminds you of your magnificent feat (really, you guys, magnificent!). I'm looking forward to that kind of pain. Meanwhile, I'll be in the basement with Green Day.
Oh man! What a bummer. Hope the knee pain subsides. And I don't think you should feel you're whining at all! You are one tough lady. I imagine you have a pretty high pain threshold, so it must hurt a lot if you're not running.
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree with you about the iPod... such a strange phenomenon! Why would you want to not listen to the wind blow, the birds chirp, the leaves crinkle under your feet outside on a run?
Thanks, D. I almost hope I being a weeny - might mean I'll be running sooner.
ReplyDeleteV,
ReplyDeleteI was a whitness to the incident and can attest to the loud blunt thud that echoed through the forest when your knee hit. I was sure you would be looking for a short way to limp back to the parking lot.
I was impressed with your toughness and expected at least a little whinning from you but got none!
I can explain the ipod thing at least from my point of view....some times I will listen to music when running alone, it might be on a long 3-4 hour training run or even a short run at times.
My reason is that I love music yet find very little time to enjoy a whole albumn or even specific songs. The long run gives me the time to enjoy this and still get the run in.
I don't do it all the time but only as the spirit moves me.....the head phones while racing though is something I don't understand.
Val you are a total badass - it takes a lot to put you on the slidelines, so rest up and let that knee heal. It's frustrating for sure, but you'll be back in no time. Better now than in the summer when the outside would really be calling!
ReplyDeleteYikes, Val. Injuries suck. Hope the knee heals up soon.
ReplyDeleteI also wonder why people listen to music while running outside. I just don't get it, but to each their own.
Jeannieee, I feeeel your pain; I haven't run for the same three days. But I am a weenie, Jeannie; I have a mild cold and worked 10 and 14 hours on Monday and Tuesday respectively. I'm taking it as a sign that I needed a little rest. You might be good for you to have a little break; what may be the real concern is the uncertainty of "for how long?"
ReplyDeleteObviously, you jinxed yourself by mentioning 2000 miles in an earlier post.
You've said you can't stomach Naproxen right. Something of an anti-inflammatory nature might help though.
By the way, (I'm the brother she mentions) wimping out on the run in Colorado wasn't about running through the pain, which of course you could have done; it was all about doing damage and possibly compromising your IT band health and then not being able to do the 50 miler on down the road. Oh, and not having your concern and decision respected by someone who should.
A long way for me to say that if one knows what the pain means then a decision can be made to run through it or not. If medical people were to tell you "there's no structural damage; you're not going to make it worse by running" I think you'd go out regardless of how much pain there was.
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone. I know you all know what it's like.
ReplyDelete