Happy Friday!

Yay...Friday!  Another busy week down!  I am looking forward to some sushi and wine tonight!

I will try for a long run of 8 miles on Sunday.  Cross your fingers the knee holds up!

ARL had her first 'table read' last night for the movie.  It was an interesting new experience for us.  I sure am learning a lot about the entertainment industry.

6 miles today. almost pain free.

I increased my mileage again today and did 6 miles in his stinkin' heat & humidity.  I was doing so great until I felt the slightest bit of knee pain at 5.53 miles.  It was a good reminder that I'm not out of the woods yet and really do need to keep on the PT regimen. 

After a shower and quick run to Staples (did you all see the back to school sale already?), I had a lovely warm beet, peach and goat cheese salad and promptly parked my behind on the couch.  I fell asleep and sadly missed the end of the soccer game.  Way to go, Ladies!  They so deserved to win!  I so deserved my nap!

Progress...on many fronts!

Wow..what a weekend of progress...

First...I ran .5 miles at PT on Thursday.  I attempted .5 miles again on Friday with some minor pain.  I had planned on going a mile...but chickened out at the first glimpse of pain.  Today, I ran 2 miles.  I buckled down when I felt the weakness and ran through it.  I was trying to concentrate on what I was doing in terms of foot placement and knee bending that would trigger the pain.   I had 3 separate instances of pain.  I still have not figured it out.  I am just hoping that the strengthening and stretching I am doing is helping the other muscles surrounding the knee. 

Second...my baby boy...my chug-a-lug-bug, my stinker...whatever we call him...he finally mastered riding his bike.  We are all so proud! 

Finally, we redecorated the kids bathroom.  It was time for the fish theme to go...they are nearly 10 and 7 now.  Time for a more grown up bath.  I have to tell you I am absolutely thrilled with how it came out.  We didn't repaint...I still liked the powder blue and it went with the new theme.  I know light blue and brown were "2009", but I don't care.  I love the clean simple lines and the uncluttered feel.  Simplicity really brings me peace.  It all came from Bed, Bath and Beyond and we spent just under $200 to complete the makeover.  The kids love it, too!  I just hope they are inspired to keep it neat and clean (at least for a month or two).  For those random folks reading the blog who don't know me, "A" & "J" on the towels are my kids initials and the "L" on the floor mat is the initial of our last name. 

good news and bad news...

The good news is that it is not a tendon tear. I'm starting to feel better so likely it was only a strain.

The bad news is PT starts on Thursday.  The therapist seems really cool and understands my goal is to get back out running ASAP. 

Not so happy.

I have not run in 1 week. Do you have any idea what this is doing to me? I'm grumpy, miserable and sad. I was doing so well on my training program. Actually, my training hadn't even kicked off yet. I was up to 12 miles pre-training program kick off. And now I likely have a tendon tear.  Lovely.  Just freakin' lovely.

So, here's what I have been doing...riding a stationary bike, icing, arms + abs, icing, yoga, icing, leg exercises in the pool, icing, foam rolling, (get the idea)?  Lots of strength and stretching exercises for the muscles around the knee to help that baby heal.  The bad part about all the icing is that I usually have a glass of wine to help improve my "not so happy" mindset right now.  The other thing that sucks is without the high calorie burn runs my body is used to, I have had to be so on point with my diet.  No cheating because I ran 8 miles in the AM.  Talk about a double dose of unhappiness.  No running and No chocolate???

On a positive note, I have figured out that if I climb the stairs on my tip toes (on the right side), I can avoid knee pain.  I have not figured out a technique for coming down the stairs pain free. 

Still in pain. Still not running.

I'm so not happy..this knee thing sucks! I haven't run since Saturday. I'm miserable. I've been a good patient...icing, taping, stretching, resting. I just wish I could do steps without pain.

At what point do I go see an orthopedist?

Uh oh...knee pain!

I had to cut my 12 mile run short today.  I made it 7.2. 

Around mile 7, when my right foot landed, it felt like my knee locked.   I was cruising along just fine, then the knee locked, and I felt pain behind the knee cap. I walked for a while.  I was able to run again, but the pain got pretty bad so I walked the rest of the way back.

This happened to me last week while I was out with my husband on a 4 mile run.  I walked it off with him and we finished strong.  There was no strong finish today.  It hurts to go up and down steps.  Walking is OK.  It does not hurt just to swing the knee while sitting.

Runners...what's your prognosis?  I iced it after the run.  I'm supposed to do a 5K on Wednesday night.