Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Knee

I really do intend to keep regularly logging-via-the-web my progress… but it has been a crazy busy week for me and I haven’t been able to get around to it. On the upside, I’m still actually participating in fitness related activities (or FRA’s), they just haven’t been chronicled it in my typical hilarious fashion quite often enough. Sorry… hopefully you’ll find a way to cope. In regards to mechanisms for the aforementioned coping, I would recommend binging on Girl Scout cookies.

I had a good running week last week. 5k on Tuesday, Thurday, and Saturday, and then on Sunday had a GLORIOUS run outside. It wasn’t great because it was particularly fast (it wasn’t), but because it was outside. It was warm and breezy and colorful and everything smells like growing. And I was able to run to places instead of running like a hamster runs.

Treadmills are for suckers.

And, not that we’re too concerned, but my pace was a little bit faster than it normally is indoors. I like the out-of-doors. I also like saying “the out-of-doors”. Something about it is just askew enough to make it fun.

Anyway, the great post-run feeling of enjoyment and being one with the out-of-doors and running slowly and embarrassingly in plain view was quickly ruined when I was walking downstairs when I got home…

(quick backstory) My legs/feet/knees feel different amounts of “funny” while I run, but I usually chalk it up to being slow, fat, out of shape, wimpy, or any combination therein.

This was different, and I’m not sure how to describe it. It was not a rip or tear or pop… more of a *twinge* on the outside of my knee near the kneecap. And it was acute. I mean, a really really sharp pain. Stairs have been tough ever since, and every once in a while I’ll feel a much more faint twinge when changing direction. “Are you playing basketball or something? What are you talking about changing direction?” … yeah-no. Like when I’m walking. Changing direction like turning a corner at the office. Yup, that’s the state I’m in. Pathetic.

The really tragic part of the whole thing is that it’s been a BEAUTIFUL week. Really just gorgeous, more than you could ever ask for from a Chicago spring. And I’ve actually wanted to run outside. In the out-of-doors. And I legitimately can’t. It’s so cruel. Possibly my least favorite thing in the world has turned into something I’ve enjoyed in a matter of six weeks, and now I’m being deprived of it. I mean, if you approached me in January and told me I can’t run outside this spring, I would have laughed in your face… and then had about 27 more Girl Scout cookies.

But now, sans cookies, and sans running opportunity… there’s just a pathetic yearning. Yearning? Yeah, you’re right… that sounds a little off. But really, can’t ride my bike… can’t go for a run… it’s beautiful out.  Something's gotta give.  What’s a guy gonna do? Swim indoors like a MORON?!  I need to figure something out…

---

I’ve been eating pretty healthy this week, lots of smoothies, and some “small portion” cheese and crackers (deserves its own post soon)… Food: B+

As far as working out (or FRA's), I forgot where I’m keeping track, but I ran back to back 5k’s this weekend. Then I tried to run on Tuesday and went about to the end of the block before realizing… no, this really isn’t going to work. Then limping home full of frustration and shame. Distance: 5k, 5k, 500 feet

Weight: 224.8 lbs. getting under that 225 mark is a good milestone for me. I’ll be pretty excited to hit the teens, too. Then really, under 215 is back into the “acceptable” range. Getting into the “two-oh-…” range (sub 210) would be something I’m proud of.  Sub-200 would be awesome.  Not sure if I’ve spelled that out before, but yeah… those are my goals. For now.

3 comments:

  1. Dan! The SAME thing happened to me last year! So, last year I worked out all winter indoors (or "the in-of-doors," as Chris and I like to say), then when it got nice out, I was super excited to run outside and felt all kinds of new momentum, etc. THEN, like 2 weeks into it or less, my knee started KILLing me, right under/to the side of my kneecap. It was soooo disappointing, because for the first time in a long time, I was actually excited to run and actually had some stamina for it. And it hurt like all the time. So I had to take a break from running...for like 3 weeks or something. And it got better!

    And also, I found that this helped, though I recommended it to Chris because his knee was hurting this year, and it did not help him...it's actually quite risky. But. After I'd rested last year and then started again, when I would feel my knee start to hurt I kind of just ran harder...which maybe made me run on the balls of my feet more or something? And then I'd feel fine. Again, sounds risky. Could be more damaging. But for what it might be worth.

    ReplyDelete
  2. [...] been running a distance of pretty close to a 5k for a couple months now (on & off thanks to the knee), this is "My First 5k".  At least, you know, in the out-of-doors with like a starting [...]

    ReplyDelete
  3. [...] been running a distance of pretty close to a 5k for a couple months now (on & off thanks to the knee), this is “My First 5k”.  At least, you know, in the out-of-doors with things like a [...]

    ReplyDelete