Monday, Oct. 24
Wooster Sq.: 1mi; 10min (Adrenaline)
I was eager to get this run underway, but it didn't feel all that great. Definitely some soreness from yesterday. Strength and core.
Tuesday, Oct. 25
AM: Third prolotherapy session with Dr. Boyer. Not as bad as the first session, but not as good as the second--somewhere in between. The concentration of the solution injected into the MCL and coronary ligaments was 12.5% for the first two sessions. We decided to bump it up to 18% today, because I had very little discomfort after the second session. This could explain why today's session wasn't as pleasant as the second.
PM: East Rock: ~2mi (Minimus Trail)
After work, I biked out to East Rock and then hiked up to the summit and down the Giant Steps Trail. GPS showed 1.1mi to the summit. Probably should have kept to the bike, as I had some soreness on the downhills. Core.
Wednesday, Oct. 26
Wooster Sq.: 1mi; 11min (Minimus Trail)
Didn't decide to do this run until the walk home from work. Two laps on the path and one on the road. The road lap is about 0.4mi. Felt fine but decided not to push behind three laps given yesterday's procedure. Knee soreness precluded any kind of strength exercises afterward. Some core at home.
Thursday, Oct. 27
AM: East Rock: 2mi; 23min (Minimus Trail)
Dark, rainy morning. Kept to the flat trails and came back on English. Slight ache on top of left foot. Tight right hip flexor. Felt fine otherwise, I guess. Knee still sore, so no strength exercises again. Not feeling too inspired after this one.
PM: Core.
Friday, Oct. 28
AM: Appointment with Dr. Zeitler.
PM: Wilbur Cross H.S. track: 2.5mi; 25min (Adrenaline)
Biked over. Felt pretty good. Did some strength exercises on the football field post-run.
Saturday, Oct. 29
Branford Trolley Trail: 1mi; 14min (Minimus Trail)
Felt ready to roll but knee was tight so decided not to push it beyond the railroad tracks. Core.
Sunday, Oct. 30
Treadmill: 1.8mi; 20min (Adrenaline)
Not too thrilled about the treadmill, but felt pretty good actually. Only some slight discomfort in the front of my knee. Probably going to keep next week's running to 20-25min per outing, as my knee protests a bit if I try to go any longer. Strength stuff post-run.
1hr 43min running
10.24.2011
10.20.2011
Oct. 17-23
I finally feel that I'm engaging in sufficient physical activity to call it training again, so here's my first weekly training report in a long time:
Monday, Oct. 17
Bear Canyon Trail: ~4 miles; 22 minutes of running (Minimus Trail)
This was mostly a hike, as all of my outings in the Bozeman area were while I was there for 6 days. Bear Cyn was a nice, double-track trail with a modest climb. I ran about half up and half down. My breathing was labored on the up, but I felt fine on the down, except for some minor aches in my knee. Aches are fine; pain is not. No Grizzlies :(
Tuesday, Oct. 18
Sypes Canyon Trail: ~6 miles; 3-5 minutes of running (Minimus Trail)
I mostly hiked this trail purposely. This was a pretty stout hike with 1600' of vert. The views from the top were stunning. I felt fine, except for perhaps some slight dehydration on the way down. Too much wine; not enough water.
Wednesday, Oct. 19
Wooster Sq.: 2 miles; 21 minutes (Minimus Trail)
Rainy afternoon. Some slight twinges in my knee. Different than what I'm used to, though. Not sure what it could be. Probably nothing. Some minor tightness. Right foot needs a bit more support, so I'm going to have to be careful about running too much in the Minimus Trail, even though it's a pretty sweet shoe. Strength, drills, core, and push-ups.
Thursday, Oct. 20
Wilbur Cross H.S. track: 2 miles; 21 minutes (Adrenaline)
Biked the two or so miles over to the track at Wilbur Cross H.S. and managed eight laps around, albeit painfully slow (2:39, 2:42, 2:41, 2:39, 2:37, 2:36, 2:37, 2:39). Long gone are the days when I could run a lap about a minute faster than that. For now. Strength and drills.
Friday, Oct. 21
Wilbur Cross H.S. track: 1 mile; 10 minutes (Minimus Trail)
Dr. Z. appt.; got new excercises; biked up East Rock for a round-trip grand total of about eight miles; run felt good; strength, drills, core, and push-ups
Saturday, Oct. 22
Wooster Sq.: 1 mile; 10 minutes (Minimus Trail)
Beautiful fall morning; ran at a bit faster pace; felt fine; didn't have much time to do anything else, as we had to hit the road to West Hartford
Sunday, Oct. 23
East Rock: 32 minutes (Minimus Trail)
Biked the four-mile round-trip to the East Rock trailhead at the end of Orange Street. Summited East Rock in 14 minutes flat. Running the whole time. Felt pretty good. Some minor twinges here and there. Longest run since April! Longest pain- and awkward-free run since January! I'll take it. Strength and drills at Wooster Sq. Nice day.
2hr 1min running
Monday, Oct. 17
Bear Canyon Trail: ~4 miles; 22 minutes of running (Minimus Trail)
This was mostly a hike, as all of my outings in the Bozeman area were while I was there for 6 days. Bear Cyn was a nice, double-track trail with a modest climb. I ran about half up and half down. My breathing was labored on the up, but I felt fine on the down, except for some minor aches in my knee. Aches are fine; pain is not. No Grizzlies :(
Tuesday, Oct. 18
Sypes Canyon Trail: ~6 miles; 3-5 minutes of running (Minimus Trail)
I mostly hiked this trail purposely. This was a pretty stout hike with 1600' of vert. The views from the top were stunning. I felt fine, except for perhaps some slight dehydration on the way down. Too much wine; not enough water.
Wednesday, Oct. 19
Wooster Sq.: 2 miles; 21 minutes (Minimus Trail)
Rainy afternoon. Some slight twinges in my knee. Different than what I'm used to, though. Not sure what it could be. Probably nothing. Some minor tightness. Right foot needs a bit more support, so I'm going to have to be careful about running too much in the Minimus Trail, even though it's a pretty sweet shoe. Strength, drills, core, and push-ups.
Thursday, Oct. 20
Wilbur Cross H.S. track: 2 miles; 21 minutes (Adrenaline)
Biked the two or so miles over to the track at Wilbur Cross H.S. and managed eight laps around, albeit painfully slow (2:39, 2:42, 2:41, 2:39, 2:37, 2:36, 2:37, 2:39). Long gone are the days when I could run a lap about a minute faster than that. For now. Strength and drills.
Friday, Oct. 21
Wilbur Cross H.S. track: 1 mile; 10 minutes (Minimus Trail)
Dr. Z. appt.; got new excercises; biked up East Rock for a round-trip grand total of about eight miles; run felt good; strength, drills, core, and push-ups
Saturday, Oct. 22
Wooster Sq.: 1 mile; 10 minutes (Minimus Trail)
Beautiful fall morning; ran at a bit faster pace; felt fine; didn't have much time to do anything else, as we had to hit the road to West Hartford
Sunday, Oct. 23
East Rock: 32 minutes (Minimus Trail)
Biked the four-mile round-trip to the East Rock trailhead at the end of Orange Street. Summited East Rock in 14 minutes flat. Running the whole time. Felt pretty good. Some minor twinges here and there. Longest run since April! Longest pain- and awkward-free run since January! I'll take it. Strength and drills at Wooster Sq. Nice day.
2hr 1min running
Bear Canyon double-track.
Endless trails back there.
View atop Sypes Canyon Trail.
10.19.2011
Grizzly Bears
While I was away in Bozeman for a few days recently, I learned quite a bit about Grizzly Bears. My fascination with Grizzlies stems from my first trip to Grizzly country in July 2011, when I first learned of the threat of Grizzlies in the western-third of Montana, as well as two recent fatal Grizzly attacks in Yellowstone National Park--one at a campground very close to where we stayed in Cooke City in July.
For me, the main appeal to Bozeman is its close proximity to thousands of miles of hiking/running trails in the Bridgers and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. There are two-thousand miles of trails in the GYE alone. The only trouble with running in the area, however, is the threat of Grizzly encounters.
The closer you get to Yellowstone National Park, the better the threat. That is, anything south of I-90, in the GYE, which includes the Gallatin Range, is ripe for Grizzlies. North of I-90, in the Bridgers, is still safe, but it's believed that Grizzlies will eventually populate there.
Runners are cautioned not to run alone south of Big Sky and Pray in Paradise Valley. Jess and I didn't go that far south, but we definitely got deep into Gallatin when we hiked up to Emerald Lake. It would have been wise to carry bear spray, so we were told. Our wedding caterer, who bow hunts for elk and deer, now carries a sidearm, in addition to bear spray, after having been attacked by a mountain lion. I don't know that I feel the need to carry a sidearm. After all, I'll be running on the trails, not bushwhacking in camouflage.
While Grizzly encounters are rare, the threat certainly exists. Almost everyone that we met in Montana had something to say about Grizzlies, and they all emphasized that the threat is real. Most couldn't believe that we hiked without bear spray. We did a total of five hikes, three in the Gallatin Range (Bear Canyon Trail, Emerald Lake Trail, and Gallatin Riverside Trail) and two in the Bridgers (Sacajawea Peak Trail and Sypes Canyon Trail).
For me, the main appeal to Bozeman is its close proximity to thousands of miles of hiking/running trails in the Bridgers and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. There are two-thousand miles of trails in the GYE alone. The only trouble with running in the area, however, is the threat of Grizzly encounters.
The closer you get to Yellowstone National Park, the better the threat. That is, anything south of I-90, in the GYE, which includes the Gallatin Range, is ripe for Grizzlies. North of I-90, in the Bridgers, is still safe, but it's believed that Grizzlies will eventually populate there.
Runners are cautioned not to run alone south of Big Sky and Pray in Paradise Valley. Jess and I didn't go that far south, but we definitely got deep into Gallatin when we hiked up to Emerald Lake. It would have been wise to carry bear spray, so we were told. Our wedding caterer, who bow hunts for elk and deer, now carries a sidearm, in addition to bear spray, after having been attacked by a mountain lion. I don't know that I feel the need to carry a sidearm. After all, I'll be running on the trails, not bushwhacking in camouflage.
While Grizzly encounters are rare, the threat certainly exists. Almost everyone that we met in Montana had something to say about Grizzlies, and they all emphasized that the threat is real. Most couldn't believe that we hiked without bear spray. We did a total of five hikes, three in the Gallatin Range (Bear Canyon Trail, Emerald Lake Trail, and Gallatin Riverside Trail) and two in the Bridgers (Sacajawea Peak Trail and Sypes Canyon Trail).
10.17.2011
100 Year Old Marathoner
Holy shit!
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2011/10/17/141414363/video-100-year-old-man-finishes-toronto-marathon
10.12.2011
Bozeman, here we come!
On the eve of our second trip to Bozeman this year, I feel compelled to write about my knee, because I'll be asking a lot of it in the mountains come this weekend. In many ways, my knee is worlds better than it was in July, when we were first in Bozeman hiking/running in the area. In other ways, it feels just about the same. I'm still unable to string together more than several minutes of running, which is just about equally as frustrating as not being able to run at all. Lately, I've been mixing in running with hiking/walking. It's certainly better than doing nothing, but I've been saying that for far too long now.
The good news is that I was able to run pain-free for a total of 25 minutes on Sunday. I hadn't done that since May. The key, I've learned, is to keep the leg loose. Sitting at a computer all day long doesn't help matters, but once I get up and moving, the leg loosens up and things start to feel functional again. The tightness felt after having sat for 3 straight hours is quite discouraging, but I hope that a few trips to the chiropractor will help that. And maybe a new, non-desk job, too!
A few days ago, a colleague noticed that I was limping. I always notice that I'm limping, but sometimes it's not as apparent to other times. Concerned, he asked: "Your knees are already failing you at your age?" He was half-joking, but part of me wanted to go into how my knee is perfectly fine--just not quite ready for high-volume running again.
This is one of those injuries that wasn't directly caused by running. In other words, it wasn't the act of running that caused the injury. What caused the injury (ligament laxity), we think, was an old sprained knee that didn't fully heal. When it should have been healing, I was in the midst of hard training for a breakthrough marathon. My training had gone so well up to that point that abandoning it was out of the question. Eventually, the pain went away, but full ligament strength was not restored, due to the continuous trauma of hard training
Ever since Austin in February, I've been struggling with this injury. It's been hard. I've had many a meltdown. Just ask Jess! But I'm confident that things will only continue to improve.
The good news is that I was able to run pain-free for a total of 25 minutes on Sunday. I hadn't done that since May. The key, I've learned, is to keep the leg loose. Sitting at a computer all day long doesn't help matters, but once I get up and moving, the leg loosens up and things start to feel functional again. The tightness felt after having sat for 3 straight hours is quite discouraging, but I hope that a few trips to the chiropractor will help that. And maybe a new, non-desk job, too!
A few days ago, a colleague noticed that I was limping. I always notice that I'm limping, but sometimes it's not as apparent to other times. Concerned, he asked: "Your knees are already failing you at your age?" He was half-joking, but part of me wanted to go into how my knee is perfectly fine--just not quite ready for high-volume running again.
This is one of those injuries that wasn't directly caused by running. In other words, it wasn't the act of running that caused the injury. What caused the injury (ligament laxity), we think, was an old sprained knee that didn't fully heal. When it should have been healing, I was in the midst of hard training for a breakthrough marathon. My training had gone so well up to that point that abandoning it was out of the question. Eventually, the pain went away, but full ligament strength was not restored, due to the continuous trauma of hard training
Ever since Austin in February, I've been struggling with this injury. It's been hard. I've had many a meltdown. Just ask Jess! But I'm confident that things will only continue to improve.
10.07.2011
East Rock
The knee seems to be coming around after a second prolotherpy session with Dr. Boyer. As a result, I've been doing some running on the East Rock trails (with some mixed in hiking on the ascents). Last night, I biked the two miles to the trailhead at the very end of Orange Street, where it intersects with English/Farnam Drive, and ran the trail along Farnam Drive to where it begins to climb to the top of East Rock. I zig-zagged my way up to the top, stretched out, and floated back down.
It's nice to finally feel somewhat normal again on the trails. The fitness definitely is not there yet, but the knee is feeling good. There are quite a few more East Rock trails that I'd like to explore, so if the knee cooperates like it has been, then that's probably where you'll find me.
On another note, the Bridger and Gallatin Mountains are calling our names. T-6 days!
It's nice to finally feel somewhat normal again on the trails. The fitness definitely is not there yet, but the knee is feeling good. There are quite a few more East Rock trails that I'd like to explore, so if the knee cooperates like it has been, then that's probably where you'll find me.
On another note, the Bridger and Gallatin Mountains are calling our names. T-6 days!
9.29.2011
Prolotherapy Round 2
I had my second prolotherapy session yesterday. Jess was in attendance for this one. It wasn't nearly as bad as the first, because the doc numbed up my knee more (or because the tissue wasn't as damaged as a result of some healing?!). It wasn't nearly as long as the first, either, because he had an assistant this time. I think I can do this a third time. If there's no improvement after the third session, then we'll have to go back to the drawing board, but I'm optimistic that this is going to work. While I cannot say definitively whether my knee is any better, something's different. And it's a good different. It's hard to put my finger on it, though.
After my first session, I took three days off from exercising. I'm not sure I need to take that many days this time, as my knee isn't feeling all that bad. We'll see.
After my first session, I took three days off from exercising. I'm not sure I need to take that many days this time, as my knee isn't feeling all that bad. We'll see.
9.21.2011
Update on progress after first prolotherapy session
I had my first prolotherapy session three weeks ago today. The first two weeks were miserable. This past week, my leg has been feeling pretty good. Yesterday, I jogged for 8 minutes with very little pain.
I will be having my second prolotherapy session on Sept. 28th. I'm hoping that it won't be as painful as the first. Even if it is, I'll have video (compliments of Jess) for entertainment value.
Tonight, I might try running the path around the neighborhood green.
I will be having my second prolotherapy session on Sept. 28th. I'm hoping that it won't be as painful as the first. Even if it is, I'll have video (compliments of Jess) for entertainment value.
Tonight, I might try running the path around the neighborhood green.
8.24.2011
Prolotherapy
I had a follow-up with Dr. Boyer yesterday. He said that my MRI from April is normal. On further exam, he said that my right knee joint is loose compared to my left knee joint. He asked me if I had ever twisted my knee. The only such event that came to mind is the time that I stepped on the inside of a leaf-covered rock with the outside of my right foot while running trails last Fall. This caused a sharp, inward twist of my knee. He thinks that this could have stretched out my MCL, causing the loose joint. He said one would definitely have pain with a loose joint.
All of this seems a bit far-fetched, but it's all I've got right now. I'm going to start prolotherapy treatment on 8/31 and see if a few sessions of that don't do the trick. We gotta tighten up that joint.
All of this seems a bit far-fetched, but it's all I've got right now. I'm going to start prolotherapy treatment on 8/31 and see if a few sessions of that don't do the trick. We gotta tighten up that joint.
8.17.2011
Dr. Boyer
After 3 follow-up phone calls to Dr. Boyer's office, I finally received a call back from his assistant who informed me that the doc has looked at my April MRI and is now ready to see me back. Hooray! I guess that's what it takes sometimes. My follow-up appointment is on Tuesday, 8/23 at 7:45/am in Glastonbury.
I think all this bears repeating:
I was never really convinced that it was tendinitis (the chiropractor almost had me, though). One need not look any further than this blog to figure that out. I can now think of a number of times when I might have injured my meniscus, thus I think it was a freak injury and not necessarily caused by a movement disorder. The more conservative docs will have you believe that every running injury is caused by some sort of malalignment.
I've logged thousands of miles since 2003, but never once have I had anything remotely like this wrong with either knee. (I've heard all of the counter-arguments that go something like this: Well, that's like saying that I've smoked for a million years but never had cancer.) Not even a twinge here or there to indicate that there might be a problem. I'm convinced that my injury could be related to 1) the time I twisted my knee on a rock running trails with Dan and Karolina (you may recall?) last fall or 2) the time I ran a mile through knee-deep snow (literally) last winter.
I'm kind of fed up with the guessing games that the docs are playing with me right now and would really like someone to just tell me exactly what it is wrong. I do, however, realize that's it's not an exact science. If that can't be done without scoping my knee, then I guess that's what I'll have to do. It's been too long already, and I'm not really interested in more PT (which hasn't really done squat) or even prolotherapy, especially if there's some potential tearing that's causing the pain.
Any opinions out there? What would you do in this situation?
Anyone care to share their racing plans here? I'd love to hear some happy news.
I think all this bears repeating:
I was never really convinced that it was tendinitis (the chiropractor almost had me, though). One need not look any further than this blog to figure that out. I can now think of a number of times when I might have injured my meniscus, thus I think it was a freak injury and not necessarily caused by a movement disorder. The more conservative docs will have you believe that every running injury is caused by some sort of malalignment.
I've logged thousands of miles since 2003, but never once have I had anything remotely like this wrong with either knee. (I've heard all of the counter-arguments that go something like this: Well, that's like saying that I've smoked for a million years but never had cancer.) Not even a twinge here or there to indicate that there might be a problem. I'm convinced that my injury could be related to 1) the time I twisted my knee on a rock running trails with Dan and Karolina (you may recall?) last fall or 2) the time I ran a mile through knee-deep snow (literally) last winter.
I'm kind of fed up with the guessing games that the docs are playing with me right now and would really like someone to just tell me exactly what it is wrong. I do, however, realize that's it's not an exact science. If that can't be done without scoping my knee, then I guess that's what I'll have to do. It's been too long already, and I'm not really interested in more PT (which hasn't really done squat) or even prolotherapy, especially if there's some potential tearing that's causing the pain.
Any opinions out there? What would you do in this situation?
Anyone care to share their racing plans here? I'd love to hear some happy news.
8.15.2011
Torrington Road Race 2011
Geoff: Nice race yesterday. 32:05 has got to be a PR, no?
It's nice to see that Bill Borla is still running 6:44 miles at the age of 71. Wow.
Wish I could have been there healthy this year. Maybe next.
It's nice to see that Bill Borla is still running 6:44 miles at the age of 71. Wow.
Wish I could have been there healthy this year. Maybe next.
8.14.2011
Wishing the rain would stop
I was hoping to do another long ride today, but the rain has killed those plans.
Yesterday, I biked into New Haven--it's about a 15-mile ride--and stopped off at the farmer's market in Wooster Square for some apples and a sunflower. The sunflower was for a colleague's 9-year old daughter, who is in the hospital recovering from an appendectomy. Unfortunately, the sunflower died in my backpack and never made it to the poor girl.
Later in the day, Jessica and I bounced around the local trails. I did a bit of running, which felt pretty good. After dinner, we walked down to the beach and reminisced about the good training we did last winter.
Tomorrow, I am hoping to hear from Dr. Boyer about my MRI. If it looks ok to him, then I think I will start prolotherapy soon. Boyer recommends 3 prolotherapy sessions, once every three weeks. Insurance doesn't pay, so I'll be looking at a $600 bill. At this point, whatever.
I can always count on good music like this to pick me up. We're looking forward to seeing these guys at Mountain Park in Holyoke, Mass. on Sept. 25th.
Yesterday, I biked into New Haven--it's about a 15-mile ride--and stopped off at the farmer's market in Wooster Square for some apples and a sunflower. The sunflower was for a colleague's 9-year old daughter, who is in the hospital recovering from an appendectomy. Unfortunately, the sunflower died in my backpack and never made it to the poor girl.
Later in the day, Jessica and I bounced around the local trails. I did a bit of running, which felt pretty good. After dinner, we walked down to the beach and reminisced about the good training we did last winter.
Tomorrow, I am hoping to hear from Dr. Boyer about my MRI. If it looks ok to him, then I think I will start prolotherapy soon. Boyer recommends 3 prolotherapy sessions, once every three weeks. Insurance doesn't pay, so I'll be looking at a $600 bill. At this point, whatever.
I can always count on good music like this to pick me up. We're looking forward to seeing these guys at Mountain Park in Holyoke, Mass. on Sept. 25th.
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