9 miles. Boy was I a little scared. I had run 8 the week before all by myself - but I was really longing for a running partner - so I pleaded with friends on facebook to even run part of it with me :) A new student in the lab, Alex, agreed to meet me after I'd run about 4 miles. I started a little later than planned that morning so he ended up meeting me a bit earlier. It was so nice to know that I could look forward to seeing him and to have him on the last half. I felt a bit sluggish the whole way - it was so hot - even that early in the morning. I listened to a great Radiolab podcast on Limits - I highly recommend it - the first part talks about physical limits which was perfect for the run. They explain that research suggests we all have an energy reserve - and when we feel pain it is because the energy reserve wants to hold on to the rest of the energy because it thinks it is going to run out - our body wants us to stop - but really we have plenty of energy left. They did research were athletes put gatorade in their mouth and then spit it out - and guess what - they tricked their energy reserve into thinking more energy was coming - and they were able to go faster and longer without even swallowing it - amazing isn't it! Our body is prepared to do this work - we've just got to trick our brains :)
10 miles. Vero Beach Florida.
I had a great week running at home. I ran 4 miles 3 different times - way faster than my normal Auburn pace (thanks to the flat course!). On my last 4 mile run my knee was really hurting during the last mile - I probably have mentioned a bit of knee trouble before - I ran through it but boy did it hurt! I had the next day off and prepared for my 10 mile run. I was, of course, nervous but looking forward to running in familiar territory and on flat ground! I started the run before the sun came up and got to watch it rising over the ocean - beautiful! There were quite a few other runners/bikers out - which always makes it more fun for me. I was going up the bridge (one of two hills on the course) - and my knee really started hurting like it had during my previous run. I stopped and tried to stretch - tried to run again - but truly couldn't. I walked abit and figured I'd start running again - tried - and couldn't. I started crying I was so upset with myself. My legs felt great - my breathing was fine - but this dang knee wasn't working right. I walked the 3 miles back to my car :( I got home and iced it (to the point of blisters oops!) and took medicine. I figured I'd take a few days off and be just fine. So far I have taken 3 days off - this will be my fourth day. I have been icing and taken alieve. It doesn't seem to be getting better - the pain is minimal when walking - but I do feel it. And once in awhile my knee will just give out - like when I am going down the stairs of the bus :( Yesterday I was really arguing in my head about what to do - I emailed my friend Jackie who is in clinicals for physical therapy school. She responded that she thought it was my it band. I goggled it and her assessment was spot on! I talked to another active friend and he gave suggestions about what shoes to wear - to run on soft terrain once in awhile - to get back into the run with a quick walk first - and he assured me that I wouldn't loose fitness until about 2 weeks off. I still wasn't sure if I needed to see a doctor because I felt dumb - it didn't hurt that bad unless I ran 4 miles or more. Other people can't even walk.
Jackie assured me that she sees people with it band problems all the time. And that the pt won't think I am being a baby - they'll actually be glad that I came in to take care of it before it got to bad. Apparently it is more a problem with my hip than my knee - even though I feel it in my knee. She said even if I don't see the doctor now - she suggests I do after the half because this isn't a problem that will just go away on it's on. So I've got to deal with it. So I decided to make an appointment- I wanted to just go straight to the physical therapists but in Alabama you have to have a referral - so I have an appointment tomorrow with the orthopedic doctor - and I already told them I really don't expect them to do much I just want a referral. I want to be sure I take care of this now so that it doesn't continue to ache in the future. Jackie told me about how both running and cycling are using specific muscles that propel the body forward so my other muscles are very weak - I'll have to send you all her e-mail because it is very informative :)
Anyway - Doctor tomorrow at 1. I'll let you know how it goes - Jackie said they may try to stick me with a cortisone shot - I'm going to try to avoid the long needle and go to the pt :)
Hope everyone else is enjoying some injury free running!
Larissa
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