Getting a leg up on it

Well, another test drive of the right knee this past Saturday turned up only 3 miles. It's Thursday now as I write this and I haven't run since then. I've been aggressively icing the right knee for the past two and a half weeks in the hopes of getting it healed up before my marathon on April 19.

Alas, I'm having second thoughts about completing the race. As I mentioned in my previous post, I'm nowhere near the mileage I need to be at this point to finish 26.2 miles. Two of the three 20 mile training runs that are on my schedule have come and gone, only having completed no more than 4 or so miles on each. As I learned in Chicago, 26.2 is nothing to be messed with- it will chew you up and spit you back out with nary a sign of mercy.

I'm doing my best in keeping fit during this layoff, concentrating on strengthening exercises, biking, and keeping to my strict stretching regiment. A co-worker of mine remarked that I looked a little thinner than usual, which I can understand because by now I would be eating everything in sight with the increased mileage I should be doing. I haven't lost or gained weight, though- officially anyway. Oh, and I should mention the Glucosamine/Chondroitin supplements I'm taking to help my healing are quite disgusting, but necessary.

I have a couple of friends running the St. Louis Marathon next month, so I may just go to cheer them on from the sidelines, and concentrate on shorter races until the Chicago Marathon in October.

I've suffered through quite a range of emotions because of all of this. Still, I'm being patient, and know that once this layoff is over, I'll be very happy to hit the roads again.

God willing.

Frustrated and waiting

Well, it's been quite a while. It's been my fault, actually.

I've been extremely busy at the office as of late. Like everyone else out there, my company has been hit hard by the current economic conditions. Many people have been laid off, and many of our plants have closed or been consolidated. As an IT network administrator for the company, I'm responsible for managing the computer network across all of our locations nationwide. My job has become that much more critical as I need to make sure the systems that are there stay up and running and healthy. This means lots of extra hours, and extra work. I should be lucky for the work, I guess. I'm not complaining.

So that's off my chest.

Wouldn't you know it? Just when I heal up a bum left knee, the right knee is experiencing the same symptoms, and has yet again slowed my mileage to a crawl. The pain started during a 10 mile run in 5F degree wind chills around March 7. And just like the left knee before it, the pain doesn't show itself until I've run three miles or more. It doesn't hurt when I walk, climb stairs, bike, jump up and down... nothing. Frustrating to say the least.

I swear, this winter has really beat me up.

I don't think I'll be training for a full marathon in the winter anytime soon. I'm taking it day by day leading up to the St. Louis Marathon. My left knee healed up rather nicely, and I'm taking care of the right one in the same way in the hopes it will heal up just as fast. I am concerned that I'm nowhere near the mileage I need to be to ensure a successful finish. I still plan on being there, and plan on running (walking) in one way or another. Crossing my fingers!

So that's a quick update in a nutshell.

I hope you've all been well! Spring is around the corner and can't wait!

Waiting for the daylight

Today, I'm enjoying a beautiful day of warm weather- finally. I don't know how long it will last, but it sure does feel nice. Even though I'm inside most of the day today, it's nice to see the sun out and the temperatures above 60 for a change! It's a nice feeling to see this nice weather come around my birthday on March 5. Spring and summer can't come soon enough.

Daylight Savings Time is this weekend and I'm pretty excited for one particular reason- sunlight! My running has been so inconsistent this winter that I'm starting to feel the affects of it- stiff legs, shin pain... it's a sure sign that I'm not putting the miles in that I should be to stay loosened up. Having daylight to run with after work will put me back on schedule, at last. I suppose keeping the snow away will help too!

So I've made it yet another year in life. My birthday's are a little more low key nowadays, but I enjoy them with friends and family nonetheless. Life has been good to me, so far. I can't complain at all. The most important thing is to remain happy, and it helps that I'm surrounded by good company all around. I'm the healthiest I've ever been in my life, and I still feel young at heart. That's important, isn't it?

I don't know what adventures lie ahead for me, but I will do as I always do- leave each day as it comes and make the best of it while I still can.

Have a great weekend!