Training, Knees and More

Quick Look Week of Jan 30 -Feb 5

# of Workouts: 7 

# of miles ran/walk: 16

Weight: 190.2 (No change)

Chest: 41.5" (No change)

Hips: 49"  (No Change)

Monday: ST with Adam
Tuesday: 2.2 mile walk with the dog; 2 mile run
Wednesday: ST with Adam
Thursday: 3 mile run
Friday: scheduled rest day
Saturday: unplanned rest day
Sunday: 8 mile run, 1 mile walk

This was an off week in so many ways.  I am behind on all the blogs I follow, on the things I'd meant to do around the house, SLEEP, my exercise and so many others.  I actually wrote a long post on Runner's Knee and never published it...and since I'm going into some of that here, I won't.  I will be catching up on all the blogs tonight though!

My main excuses???  Lots of drama arriving in the wake of my mother's death.  In sum: I have a sister I didn't know about that was born the year before I was, and my mom's internet boyfriend sent a long letter to my house.  I will not go into more detail here in such a public forum.  Needless to say, I have said "I'm done with 2012" multiple times this week.

But Avery hugs make everything better, right Mommy?

I also saw Dr. B about my knees.  He tentatively said I had runner's knee and sent me to PT.  I had that appointment today.  I have patellar tendonitis, which is also known as Jumper's Knee.  The patellar tendon is the tendon that attaches my knee cap to my shin bone.  Essentially, it is inflamed.  This is an overuse injury.  The therapist thinks it was the combination of the bad footing trail run, plus all my squats and lunges, plus starting at 1 mile on the stair climber, plus all those flights of stairs I normally take.  

The cure?  Today I had electrodes places on my knees and the tendon was electrically stimulated to promote healing while both knees were iced for 15 minutes.  I've been given some simple exercises to do twice a day in addition to my normal stuff. 

I will demonstrate the proper technique Mommy.

 I've been told that I can continue to run as long as I'm not limping.  I've been given strict instructions of NO SQUATS, NO LUNGES and NO STAIR CLIMBER.  But, he promised if all goes well, I can add back in the stair climber in 5 minute increments in one week.  He laughed and said that he didn't have many clients who were disappointed about not being allowed to do squats or lunges.  I am allowed to continue all other workouts so long as I stop if the knees flare up.  He is well aware of my race and climb goals and thinks that odds are good that my training will not be too derailed. The other good news?  I don't have any knee or hip instability that is a common result of this injury. 

I have been asked how this is different than Runner's Knee.  Patellar tendonitis is an inflammation of only the patellar tendon.  Runner's knee typically involves the patellar tendon, the quadriceps tendon, the kneecap and the associated soft tissues that are used while extending the knee.  Furthermore, with patellar tendonitis, the inflammation typically occurs just below the knee cap at the origin of the tendon rather than extending to all the soft tissues below the knee as in runner's knee.

Caveat - I am not a doctor, nor do I have any sort of medical degree.  I am describing what is wrong with me as passed along to me by those with such education.  I could be completely wrong and will mostly just do as I'm told.  :) 

Bottom line:  This is not a permanent injury and most likely will NOT keep me from reaching my goal races and completing my mountain training!  WOOHOO!  Plus, I can keep running.  DOUBLE WOOHOO!

In fact, before the PT (but after Dr. B said it was okay), I went on an 8 mile run with my friend Laurie.  The weather was GORGEOUS and she was nice enough to let me stop in the last couple miles of each 4 mile loop to stretch my leg and alleviate knee issues.  Love her.

Is it really February?

I will be doing some walks while carrying weight this week to make up for my stair-climbing restrictions.

How did your week go?  Have you ever had a training or sports related injury?