5 Miles!

Funny that I would be so excited about this since at one point I actually DID run 13.2 miles! BUT, I have not run 5 miles in one run since prior to the "knee incident." I've stuck with 4.5 miles for my "long" runs for a couple months now. I was too scared to try to cross that 5-mile finish line. Plus, my knee would always seem to act up around mile 4, so I didn't want to push it.

Saturday I went for a beautiful run in the country, even with a few hills, and I felt incredible. I walked twice for about 30 seconds, but that was it! I came home, stretched, and felt as good as new! I tell you, running has some sort of magical powers. I pray that I can continue to run forever (well, "forever" as in my lifetime). It was such a blow when I couldn't run for 3 months after my bum knee kicked in. I would be pretty sad if I injured myself again. Here's a cool pic of a church at sunrise from a run a few weeks ago...

50-miles and No-Sugar-Challenge

Well, I've signed myself up for the "50 miles in 30 days" challenge on Mapmyrun.com. It's not that far out of reach. Right now, I'm doing about 40 miles/month, so I just need to add another run in each week, and I should be good. Tonight I ran almost 3 miles, and I felt NO pain in my knee! I have noticed that when I run in the evening, my knee pain is often unnoticeable. I guess it's b/c I'm actually "warmed up." Even though I try to warm up a bit in the morning before I run, it just doesn't seem to work as well. So, I think I'll try to throw in Sunday evening runs if it's ok with Chris.

I'm out of control with my sugar intake. I don't know what happened to me this past month, but having Chris and the kids home has influenced me in bad ways. I seriously eat WAY too many desserts...bake stuff and then of course have to eat some...eat ice cream almost every day--I mean, the weather is 100+ degrees...what do you expect?? I have to reign this in or I'm gonna balloon out and lose whatever toning I may be getting back from running. So, a 30-day sugar-free challenge for me it is. I want to see if I notice a dramatic improvement in my energy levels. I've also been getting these *horrible* headaches that only last about 10 minutes, but when it comes on, everything I see seems way to bright and hurts my eyes, and I feel like I'm going to throw up. Even the kids talking normally makes my head feel like it's going to explode. It's very strange. So, until August 19th:

1. No desserts of any kind.

2. No added sugar drinks (which I don't drink anyway...except when I drink Iced Tea, and I add sugar...guess I'll try it unsweetened.)

3. Minimal refined carbs (white bread, white rice etc)

4. No sugar substitutes either

I'm putting it here so hopefully I'll stay accountable. I don't intend on staying sugar free forever, I just want to see if this makes a difference in how I feel.

Running, running, the joys of running!

Well, I've been consistently doing 4.5 miles on Sat. mornings with Heather and Amber! I still have to request walk breaks every 1.5 miles or so, but thankfully Amber is approaching the end of her pregnancy, so my knee issues are a welcome break for her, too! Amber missed this morning, so Heather and I did about 4.3 miles. The weather has been incredible for our runs--still cool, clear, sunny and thoroughly enjoyable. I just love running.

I ran a 1/2 mile!

Sad that this is so exciting to me...but I ran a 1/2 mile on Thursday! I started to feel tightness, not necessarily pain when I was almost done, but once I got home and stretched, I was good to go! I did it again on Friday. I'm wearing a knee brace, and I think it does help a bit in stabilizing my knee. If I could just get back up to some reasonable mileage, I would be ecstatic. I can't even begin to describe how incredible it was to be back outside running...even if it was just for 5 minutes. I have missed it so much!

Progress?

Well, it's been 13 days since my last entry. After a week of "ice massaging" 3x/day religiously, I was still having the same problem with my knee. I finally cut back to 1x/day. I have read pretty much everything I can about ITBS online...gone to every forum...read everyone's different experiences. Some people get over it in a week, some people in 6 months...It seems that many people have had good results from chiropractic treatment, and so I decided to make an appointment for this afternoon. The last week I seem to have good days and bad days...I can't find any connection between my activities and what aggravates the knee, though. It just seems to randomly come and go.

Chris is working late today, and Caleb has baseball practice, so I canceled my appointment for this afternoon. I'm tempted to just wait it out another few weeks to see where I'm at. I do think I'm having more "good" days than "bad," so maybe I'll wait...

In other news, my bike/elliptical came! I've used it twice so far, and am SO happy to be sweating again. As gross as that sounds, it feels so good to be exerting some energy. I've been really consistent with my push-ups and sit-ups...I'm up to 52 consecutive push-ups and am doing my test tomorrow to see if I can pull off 200 consecutive sit-ups. I'm going to try the 200 squat challenge, but not sure if my knee will like that. I'm just happy to not be completely sedentary anymore...I just hope I can get back out there running before the weather gets cold again and the mornings are dark!

Physical "Therapy"

Went to my physical therapy appointment yesterday. He thinks it's my IT Band, too. Made me feel somewhat validated...

For some reason, he says most of my problem may be congenital. What?! You mean a 1/2 East Indian, 1/2 translucent-white person isn't built as a runner?? Ok, ok, maybe we have brains, but not athleticism. Regardless, I still love to run. I want to be out there like peanut butter wants to be on jelly. Bad news--I'm not built like a runner. Good news--I can *kind of* train myself to run like a runner. I guess the way my pelvis lines up makes me slightly turn my feet/legs outward when I run...whereas many women tend to run a bit knock-kneed. The doc told me to focus on turning my feet inward a bit more while I'm running...will do, doc, as I'm trying not to trip over my own feet.

He also suggested that I stop using an "ice pack" and switch to an "ice cup." Never heard of it. He told me to freeze water in a styrofoam cup (guess he's not into that whole global warming thing...) and then trim off the top inch or so and rub it quickly on my knee until it turns red and numb. Sounds like a blast. I tried it today...ummm...I don't think my skin was meant to get frostbite. Anyhoo, I'll give it a try for a week...2x a day. He said by the middle of next week I should notice a big improvement. If not, back to him I'll go...but as much as I enjoyed the peace and quiet in the little room, I hope I never have to go back there. That would mean I'm not better.

Well, I'm off to rub my knee with frozen water until I can feel no more...

Sprained Lateral Ligament?

I went to the doc last Friday...she says I have a sprained lateral ligament on my left knee. I dunno, though...I'm still wondering if it's my IT Band. I pretty much have every one of the "symptoms" of ITBS, it's almost textbook. I mentioned it to the doctor, but she said I would be feeling the pain all the way up the side of my leg. I told her that I do, sometimes, but that most of the time it is concentrated in my knee. It seems that when I get up in the morning, is when I notice it on the outside of my leg...

At any rate, I am supposed to take 600 mg. of Ibuprofen for 10 days, continue my icing (it's getting a tad old...), and have a physical therapy appt. set for Thursday. I'm really looking forward to it, as I feel that he will really be able to tell me what is wrong with me, and hopefully be able to get me on the road to recovery. I truly am saddened by this situation. The weather has been incredible the last few weeks. I want to be out running so badly...I know I should be grateful it's not something more serious, but I'm just so sad. I'm already noticing my jeans getting tighter...