Sunday, November 7, 2010

Improvise. Adapt. Overcome.

This was supposed to be the post where I revealed my marathon goals.  This was supposed to be the post where I recounted my positive changes in this training cycle.  This was supposed to be the post where I talked about tapering and how much I missed the grind of training.  This was supposed to be the time of positive anxiousness, where I knew I had the fitness covered, but respected the fact that you never know how your body will feel on race day.  This was supposed to be fun.

Plans change.  Mine changed at the 7-mile mark of my run last Sunday.  My right knee is not in a happy place.  Apparently my knee bone is connected to my pissed-off bone, but I’m trying to keep both in check.  Per my new plan, I gave my knee a test this morning.  There were no miracles.  No sudden, mind-blowing recoveries.  No confidence-boosting improvements from Wednesday’s run.  I didn’t expect much, and I got what I expected.

I bought a Cho-Pat strap for my knee, the kind with a strap above and below the knee, and wore it on this morning’s run.  The first half mile was pretty brutal.  Lots of tightness and pain where the quad meets the inner kneecap.  Once that loosened up a bit, it mostly settled into a dull ache, with an occasional shot of pain on the outside or inside of the kneecap.  I tried to mix surfaces, and hit some hills, to see if anything made things better or worse, and nothing really jumped out as good or bad.  I also made sure I went at least 7 miles, since that’s where the Cobra Kai decided to sweep the knee last time.
Ended up going just over 9 miles, followed by much Advil and ice.  And perhaps a beer or two.

Net result – disappointment that the rest and ice didn’t seem to make a discernible difference between Wednesday and Sunday, with slight encouragement that I got through 9 miles.

Bottom line – unless something gets considerably worse over the course of the week, I’ll be standing at the starting line Sunday morning ready for 4 hours of hurt.  Also, my knee can suck it if it thinks it’s going to make me throw out all my goals and just be happy to finish.  My goal is to go sub 4-hours.  My original goal, pre knee flop, was to run an 8:45 average pace, finishing around 3:50.  I’m still clinging tenuously to that goal, and will hold that grip until my body tells me otherwise.

Without an actual medical opinion on this, I’m not quite sure what to do this week.  Total rest?  Try another short run Wednesday to keep things loose?  Cross-train to try and kick my quads into gear?  Maybe a couple long walks?  I’ll definitely be stretching every day, icing multiple times daily, spending some quality time with the foam roller, and taking anti-inflammatories like Brett Favre on a Monday morning.  I may try and get to my orthopedist, but my work schedule isn’t making this very likely.

Time to start getting my mind ready for an unhappy body one week from now.  Time to channel a combination of Willis Reed, Jordan with the flu, and Kerri Strug on the vault.  Or maybe Rocky Balboa, since Clubber Lang summed up my prediction for this race....
"Pain"

Don't forget to enter my Ryders/Gu giveaway.  Entry deadline is less than a week away.

27 comments:

  1. I vote rest all week... more rest will only benefit you! Good luck... so sorry about the knee (love the Karate Kid reference).

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  2. What's that they say about best laid plans? Totally sucks, that's what I say!! Sorry about not progress with the knee...I say stay off of it running but definitey do some XT - swimming would be great, and no hard impact on the knee.

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  3. Wow, I don't know what to tell you but I really hope your knee feels better before your race. Good luck with your goal of sub 4 hours!

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  4. Hope things improve. If I were you - and I'm not so feel free to ignore me - stay off that knee all week. No more training. Icing, rest and ibuprofen.

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  5. Take it easy and live to race another day.

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  6. Oh, man, what a bummer!! I say you rest this week with a little bit of cross training thrown in and hopefully you will be good to go for the race. Good luck!!

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  7. If properly rested and cared for - your knee will allow you to:

    "Attack rapidly, ruthlessly, viciously, without rest, however tired and hungry you may be, the enemy will be more tire, more hungry. Keep punching."

    Good luck.

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  8. I'd go with rest. The knee it telling you to stop.

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  9. Ditto to what everyone else is saying!

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  10. Rest for sure and then take it really easy during the race. Good luck!

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  11. Total rest, dude. You don't want to be joining me and the old ladies aqua jogging in the pool. Good luck.

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  12. That sucks, hope it feels better by the race!

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  13. Chris, babe, I just want to cry for you. I'm in a very similar situation, and I've done my fair share of crying for myself. I, too, vote for total rest.

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  14. Ughhhh.. Injury=so NOT fun. Frustrating and I've been there! My feeble opinion says remove yourself from impact for the week. Swim perhaps but give that knee a rest! Best of luck! Sending healing vibes your way!!

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  15. Total rest - ibu drip - ease off all the 80's movies... I've done a race on a seriously bad knee and the adrenaline will get you through. Nobody puts baby in a corner - get out there and get that sub 4! Ok, I'll ease off the 80's movies too... Good luck - I'll be sending happy thoughts from RNR San Antonio!

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  16. "my knee bone is connected to my pissed-off bone"...I LOL'd when I read that. This sucks. Try to keep your head up and I guess we'll see what happens...FOO !!! (In a Mr. T voice)

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  17. I vote for rest, ice and a few walks.

    And the "sweep the knee" thing --- loved that. That phrase is a staple in my home. SOmeone please tell Q "LOL" is so 2005.

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  18. Sorry to hear it! Keep your chin up...some rest and lots of ice. May make it all doable.

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  19. Can't wait to hear how it all turns out! Take care of that knee.

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  20. Well that sucks! I'm with everyone else - rest!!!
    Hope you're able to channel your inner Jordan!

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  21. I would not run this week but I would go for walks, s l o w and not too long walks. But this is only because I am not as smart as all the people who tell you to rest.

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  22. R.I.B.

    Rest, Ibuprofen and Beer :)

    Good luck!!

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  23. take it easy, you won't lose any fitness between now and race day, you don't want to make it worse. Good luck!!!!!

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  24. As someone who works in a PT clinic, NO RUNNING! Cross train if you must (maybe biking or swimming), but total rest until race day would be best. Eat lots of naproxin (alieve) and ice like it's your job. Any chance of getting into a PT clinic for an ultrasound and E-Stim?? Good luck!

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  25. Man...bummer! Hope it gets better! I'm gonna have to rent Rocky III now!

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  26. crap buddy. sorry the knee is still giving you issues. I did a TON of rolling on my IT bands when I had my knee issue, and that seemed to help.... icing.... whining.... etc. I hope it makes a miraculous recovery for this weekend!

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  27. Good Luck Chris! I know you will push through the pain! REST! REST! REST!

    Breathe
    Relax
    Believe

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