Not even my ultra-movie-marathon went as planned. I DNF'd after three movies, and only two of them were Jamie Lee Curtis movies. It's amazing how few Jamie Lee Curtis movies our local video store has. So, after "True Lies", "A Fish Called Wanda", and then the non-Jamie Lee Curtis movie "Mulholland Dr.", I was through. I probably could have gone on but I think my goal of six or seven movies in a row was simply too ambitious.
As far as my running goes, I'm at a weird point. I'm almost 100% positive that what I'm dealing with is RUNNER'S KNEE. The good thing about this is that rest is the main remedy. The bad thing is that I have to rest. My original plan (last week) was to take the weekend off and then pick up the running yesterday, but I want to play this very safe and get all the rest my knee needs. So I will most likely take this week off as well, with another trial run Friday or Saturday to see how everything feels. I'm icing, elevating, taking ibuprofen, heating, etc. And my Tiger Tail came in a couple days ago so I've been rolling my legs like a crazy person to work those fatigued quads and tight hammies and calves. Everything feels good and mentally I think I've rested it enough to go out and run today, but I just want to play it safe and take a few more days off.
Has anyone had experience with this? All the literature online says I need to "rest", but there is never a prescribed length of time. I know I don't want to rest too long because I will lose my conditioning, but...
Anyway, I'm still preparing as though I'm running the Cle Elum 50k on Sept. 15th. But I also know that this race, as much as I WANT to run it, is not my main focus. My main focus must be the JFK 50 in November. So I want to play it smart.
I'm in better spirits now then I was this time last week. It's tough to have to take this time off after my training had been going beautifully. But I'll be back soon. :)
-Scott
That's not good! Although, I love "A Fish Called Wanda" -- Kevin Kline is awesome i that movie! But, as per the knee, that sucks! I don't know much about the injury, and rest is probably the best cure. I've heard of people wearing those support braces that keep the patella in better place, so maybe that would help?
ReplyDeleteDude, sorry to hear the knee is still acting up! You're doing all the right things (rest, ice, etc etc). Hang tough, you'll be back out there soon enough.
ReplyDeleteUgh, i had my bout with that before my meniscus injury about a year ago. I'm not very good with "rest", so I did some research for itband stretches and found this site. Like you said, I was to the point where I couldn't run even after getting new shoes b/c that's what some people recommended. But I spent a good amount of time, 3x a day, doing the stretch and within three days I was back on the road running pain free. I would just close my office door during lunch and do them next to my desk. Of course, keep doing what you're doing too, ice, rest, etc until the pain subsides. Hope it helps.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.howtostretch.com/iliotibi.htm
Ok, I'm brain dead, sorry you said runner's knee,not itband issue. Oh well...not sure about that.
ReplyDeleteI was diagnosed with runner's knee when I first started running. I am really not sure if it was real runner's knee as much as an early over use injury. In any event rest was the primary cure. I went to physical therapy for it and worked on some leg strengthening but in the end I think it was the rest that helped. Also, the physical therapist used deep icing. So not just laying a bag of ice on it but take a paper cup with ice frozen inside and rubbing it straight on the knee.
ReplyDeleteKeep resting buddy!
Oh man, I am sorry to hear about your knee. Unfortunately I have no good advice on how long to rest, unless can you test it and quit if it acts up?
ReplyDeleteI once did a Gweneth Paltrow marathon. There were several I hadn't even heard of.
Dang, that knee is really bothering you! I don't know much about it, but if you want to continue running, especially doing ultra's, I would rest as much as possible and pick up when you can; starting with shorter runs?!
ReplyDeleteI am sure that's not what you wanted to hear...
By the way, that Tiger Tail is awesome! Hurts when the muscles are sore, though!
sorry to hear about the knee. i hope it gets better soon! sounds like you are doing all the right things. keep your spirits up!
ReplyDeleteIt's always hard to rest, but usually worth it. When you do start back, before to keep stretching and icing for a while. Hang in there!
ReplyDeleteAt the very least, I think you should try and do some kind of cross training while you are letting your knee rest. Get in the pool, or a bike or something so you can maintain your cardio level until you can get back to running. If you keep doing something, you won't lose fitness as fast.
ReplyDeleteJust stay positive.
A DNF is really disappointment but it's not the end of the world there will be other weekends with nothing to do sometime in the future, don't despair.
ReplyDeleteChad's on to something there with the cross training.
I had a touch of runners knee last year. I think its a referred pain from a weakness in the upper leg/hip region. There should be some stretchs/exercises online somewhere which will help it. Good luck & stay positive.
ReplyDeleteI think it sounds like you have a great plan. I agree definitely with the cross-training though. It will make it so much easier once you can hit the ground running (:P) again.
ReplyDeleteI'm bummed about your DNF...maybe Jamie Lee was too lofty of a goal for your first? Next time you could try Angelina or maybe even Whoopie...now there's some classics...........
Yup. I agree with Chad too. Swim or bike if it doesn't affect your knee! Sometimes, being injured is just as hard as the actual training. You can do it!! Sounds like you are focused on the right stuff. That Tiger Tail is going around. Mine is in the mail :-)
ReplyDeleteLooks like we have both had so many ups and downs along this adventure to our 50 mile races.
ReplyDeleteWe will make it... I am just sure of it!!!
Hang in there!!
Hang in there homie!! I'm going to 3rd (4th,5th, whatever) the cross training. You have a bike? Dang I should have picked up a road bike. Then you could get on yours and I could get on mine and we'd meet halfway. With all this time we've spent resting we'd probably already be in the middle of the country by now LOL
ReplyDeletebummer. the pt in the house is out right now, but i'll see if he's got any info for you- rest is probably the best rx for it.
ReplyDeletehope you are feeling better soon!
I should have given this advice last week, but pool running did wonders for me when I was injured. It is boring as can be, but good mental training for an ultra. Hang in there!
ReplyDeleteUgh, runner's knee really sucks. I dealt with it (pretty severely) when I was training for & running half-marathons a few years ago. Are you pretty sure you're running in the best shoes for your feet? Overpronating can really agravate runner's knee.
ReplyDeleteI'm currently waiting for my first pair of orthotics, which I'm hoping are going to enable me to run a lot further... fingers crossed. Good luck with the knee. But really, speaking as someone who trained & raced through it (because, really, it hurts more when you STOP running, right? so it's not hard to just keep running...), it's best to see a doc/specialist about it early on.