3 Weeks To Go

I am now three weeks away from the big day.  Some great news is that I made my fund raising goal three days before the deadline!

My knee has been feeling a bit better.  But, it's not all the way there.  Last week I ran 3 miles on Tuesday, 6 miles on Thursday and 9 miles on Sunday.  At the end of the 9 miles my knee was hurting.  I just felt like I had to run some kind of distance.  I generally felt pretty good, but I am concerned - 9 miles is only 1/3 of the way there.

But, now my goal is to heal up.  So, I am going to be wise with my tapering from here on out.  I think my situation is fairly common for first timers, but somewhat disconcerting nonetheless.  Everything I've read describes just how I feel.  I want one more long run - like 18 miles.  But, to try to push for such a thing would be foolish.  No matter what I "want" running wisdom says to begin to taper off and heal up.  So, that is what I intend to do.

Today I planned to do a short run and some elliptical work.  My knee was hurting right away, so I went home and did an hour on the machine.

If you are reading this blog before April 20th, please pray for my knee (and my other joints for that matter) to heal up.  I'd REALLY like to be able to finish this thing!  I would appreciate your intercession on my behalf.

Humbly -humbly - humbly pressing toward the goal with your help,

Tom

Cross Training - Isn't this kind of late?

So, my last long run of 15 ended up straining my knee. I think I built up a little too much for my own good. It wasn't the 15 miles alone that did it. It was a 12, at 10 and a 15 all within too short of time, and all including hills. I guess I should have known better. However, I felt strong every time!

Anyway, I am in a bit of trouble. I've done some elliptical work - with no pain, but I don't seem to be able to run worth a bean. I ran a 3 miler on Wednesday - through a some very minor pain. Then I did some more cross training, and I received some prayer for my knee on Saturday that felt great. I did another 3 miler on Sunday afternoon - hardly any pain. I kept it short on Sunday, so I could possibly do a more sizable run (hoping for 9) on Monday. When I went out on Monday, however, I couldn't even make 1 mile without pretty significant hurt - so I walked home.

This week I am only going to do cross training. The elliptical doesn't seem to aggravate the injury at all - I don't understand it, but I am going to go with it. I had hoped to get a long run of at least 18 miles in a few weeks before the marathon. At this point, however, I might be wiser to make sure that I can heal up well. I am not sure. I want to be careful, but I still need to build new levels of endurance and strength. This is causing some anxiety. But hey, this is all part of the marathon challenge.

I believe I can do this thing. I am learning to really enjoy running. Yet, I am anxious as to whether I can both nurse my knee and build strength at the same time.

A Beautiful Day Calls for a Long Run - oops!

On Sunday afternoon the weather was simply awesome! The next few days were supposed to be rainy and snowy and nasty. So ... I decided to go for another long run. Now, I don't usually run in the afternoons. And, I don't know if I have ever run on a Sunday afternoon - so, this was unusual for me. After standing up all morning, playing guitar and preaching, my legs tend to be shot - but, I wanted to go for it.

So, I strapped on my long run gear ... shorts, shoes, under armor, hat, sun screen (check); running watch, heart monitor, water bottles, three gue packets (these are part of the new check list, check). I didn't have time to plan a new route, so I headed for route 9 again and ran to and past 128. I ran about a mile and a half further out route 9 than I had before, and I felt generally great. When returning, about 4 miles from home (on a 15 mile run), I started to feel some discomfort in my left knee. This was a little different than I have felt before. It was kind of under the knee cap, on the inside. I didn't know if it was serious or not, but I had 4 miles to go, so I ran carefully home. I felt worn, but pretty good when I got home.

The next day I went to run a short run, and I could only go 1/4 mile without significant pain. I guess I strained something, or bruised my patella or my meniscus. This is common, but not good for marathon trainers (particularly for newbies). Now, I need to figure out how to nurse my knee, while continuing to train my body.

Help!

A very small glimmer of light

I went away for a few days to a conference this week.  The conference was good and very refreshing to my soul, but it meant that I had to miss a couple of days of training.  So, when I got back in the afternoon I squeezed in a 6 mile run.  I am not usually an afternoon runner, so I generally don't feel to good when I run at that time.

The run started slowly.  My ankle was hurting, and I had not felt any of this on my run out to 128 last week - so, that was a little discouraging.  I was dragging at about 4.5 miles, but it was an afternoon run.

Then I thought I'd stretch it out a bit.  I didn't particularly feel like it, but I thought is would be a good idea.  And something happened.  It was like a burst of energy filled me - and I powered it for the next mile and a half - to my pleasant surprise.  I don't think I have ever experienced this kind of feeling before.  I began to close on couple of people who had passed me along the way, and soon I was motoring by them without even really trying to do so.  I don't know what this was, but I enjoyed it.  It was a small glimmer of hope - amidst the mystery of this training season.

New Training Efforts - Humbled, but Hopeful

Since I couldn't do my big run, and I couldn't do any hard training for a while, I needed to come up with some creative alternatives.  First, I worked my way into more Elliptical training, taking it easy enough, but exercising nonetheless.

I have found that I get a really good workout on the Elliptical machine.  I am very glad I picked up this piece of equipment.

Yesterday I went after a new running course.  A friend from our church who is also training recommended that I try running along route 9, so I gave it a try.  

It was a warm Friday morning - perfect weather for a run.  However, if I was going to go for it, I would have to rearrange my schedule and cancel a couple of appointments.  I felt I had to do it - so I did, and everything worked out.  I ran from my house out to route 128 and back!  I wore my training belt with water battles on it (that my wife gave me for Valentines day) and I even ate some "gue" gel  packs every 45 minutes.  The run, over many hills was generally a delight.  It was long and draining, but I felt surprisingly good through most of it.

I got home and felt very proud of myself.  The I remembered this wasn't even half the length of the Marathon.  So, I remain humbled, but hopeful in the whole process.