Trying to Run

Well, the recovery is moving forward. I'm trying to run every other day, taking walking breaks when needed. Last Wednesday, I ran 4 miles for the first time in 2 months!! This morning my plan was 40min. Trying to do time and not worry about mileage. The morning was warm and humid. At 7am it was 77F and 80% humidity, but I was not going to let the weather stop me! I started down the road and ran for about 5min, before taking a minute walk break. I then ran until 2 miles, at which time I stopped and stretched. Everything was going well, and I ran over a mile without walking!! After stretching I ran another mile at which time I was stopped by a guy who was in town visiting and wondered where he could find a good place to run. After giving him some ideas, I set off again. Around 3.5 miles, I noticed a twinge in my knee and by 4 miles I had to stop.

I walked home, and stretched and iced my knee. I've run for the last couple of weeks without any pain, but hit a roadblock today. I will continue icing and stretching and see how the knee reacts. I will probably go back and put in more walk break for the next few runs and see how that does. I also need to continue the cross-training.

Injuries do not heal overnight, I know that, but this has been the longest process I have ever had to deal with in terms of injury. I plan to run the Baltimore Half in October, and plan to follow a 12 week training plan, which needs to start a week from Monday. I'll know if its possible after the first week of training.

If its not, I'm not going to let it get me down... I'll go back to cross training heavily and give it more time. I'll let you know how it goes!

Getting better

So, as you can tell, I have not been posting. That is because I have not been running. This IT band thing has really sidelined me. For the last two months, I have been cross training; bike riding, spinning, elliptical and some swimming. I got to say that I've really enjoyed the cross-training, but I miss running. I have also been going to Physical Therapy (PT) at least once a week. My PT has me doing stretches and strengthening exercises for my hips and IT. She also has me icing my IT band at my knee with ice. Direct ice. Kinda an ice message for five minutes until its numb. Each day, like its medicine.

About 3 weeks ago, my PT cleared me to try running. She wanted me to do 2 min of running and 2 min of walking for 30min. My first time out, I got about 15min, before I had to stop. IT band pain. I was pretty discouraged. When I went back to her, and told her what happened, she asked if I tried 1 min on and 2 min off. I said no, so set off the next week to try that.

I tried the 1 min on and 2 min off.... I went the whole 30 min!! My knee ached afterward but did not hurt during the run

The next week, I did two days of 2 min on and 2 min off... I made it both days without much problem. My IT started to ache at the end, but it seemed to be ok.

Last week, I ran four days. The first two I went 3 min on and two min off. Not bad runs, my knee ached a bit after, but no real problems. The next was 4 min on and 2 off. Made it 30min with no pain!! Finally this morning I ran 5 min on and 2 min off, with running the last nine minutes with no walking. I had no knee pain!!

I feel I'm beginning to make progress, but I have to be careful not to do too much too soon. I think I'll continue running four days a week, and keep upping the time between walks. I'll also see what the PT says at my appointment tomorrow.

Maybe I'll be able to do a 1/2 this fall...... maybe