Weeks 1-3, Take Two

I made it! I've completed weeks 1-3! I took 3 weeks off with my bursitis. I wondered if the pain would ever go away, but it did, finally. With a bit of fear & trepidation, I headed off on week 1 again. Mare it through all 3 weeks without knee pain. I've had a couple of twinges, but haven't been too concerned. Week 3 was the most eventful - on the second day, I ran in -6F weather in the snow! I used Yak Trax & they were amazing. Then, on day three, it was the day after Thanksgiving & I ran! I was out of town at my sister's house & I did it anyway. My husband ran with me which was pretty fun.

My thoughts at this point mostly concern the fact that it's hard work & I am really out of breath, etc when I do the 3 minute runs & I can't imagine that one day I will be able to run for 30 minutes at a time. In a matter of weeks! Hmmm. I am excited it for it, but it's also hard to imagine it happening.

I'm excited to carry on next week - no doubt in the snow unless we have a big thaw. Praying for continued strength in my knees & increased endurance.

Week 3, Day 1

So my run was non-existent today, but I did go to the doctor. My knee pain has not been improving and I was worrying about long term damage, possible surgery, never running again. I worry a lot.

I got X-rays and met with the doctor. Apparently I have knee tendon bursitis. It's not permanent & my knees look great. I won't be running for a while until the inflammation is gone. I am still in heaps of pain as well. I am hobbling around all day - so annoying. As soon as the pain dies down, I'll be at it again. Hopefully with better form and stronger tendons. Praying that it will take.

I'm sad that I am on hiatus for a while, but so grateful that I will be able to have another try.

Week 2, Day 3

Arg!

I have been struggling with the knee pain - mostly in my left knee - this entire week. So I headed out for my run this morning still with pain in my knee, trying to run with better form. I also wore a brace on my left knee. I ran all my intervals and the pain just got more intense. On my final 1.5 minutes, I started out and couldn't finish so I had to walk the rest of the way.

Got home, did some stretching. Took some pain meds. I've been hobbling around all day and getting more discouraged. Did some more research and I still haven't got my form right. I am so frustrated. Thankful for two days off to see if I can recover.

I think that if I am not 90% pain free by Monday, I am going to stop running until I am and then carry on.

I am just angry and disheartened. I'm finally doing this and now it's become such a struggle. I don't want to stall out so early. I have actually felt my endurance increasing. So I end this blog entry the way I began it.

Arg!

Week 2, Day 2

So I think my endurance is actually increasing, it still is hard work, but I can feel it happening. Sadly, I am having intense knee pain. I stretch before and after I run, but still then pain! I've done some research today and I have bad running form. So I will work on that. I also need to strengthen my thigh muscles, so I will work on that. Finally, although I researched and got some really good shoes for my flat feet, I may need to beef up the support even more.

I am so disappointed that I am dealing with this, but I don't want to give up. I've been wanting to do this for so long and to come up against this pain in the second week is disheartening. I will move forward and try to fix what I can fix and we'll go from there.

Right now, I am in so much pain and it makes me so mad. But I have a rest day from running tomorrow so I am hoping that I feel well enough to run on Friday. Bring it on!

Week 2, Day 1

Went to bed in plenty of time last night, but did not sleep well. I was so annoyed. Got up with the alarm though & off I went. My routine of getting ready, stretched & hydrated is better.

This week it is 5 minute walk, 1.5 minute run, 2 minute walk - repeat until it all adds up to 26 minutes. I did it! The first few runs weren't too bad, but it got to be more of a struggle later in the walk/run. It was nice to have the 2 minute walk to recover!

Feeling pretty good, still hard to imagine running for longer times, but I increased it by 30 seconds today, so I'm getting there.

Week 1, Day 3

Yesterday seemed tough. Didn't sleep particularly well, so that didn't help. But up I got & off I went. It was a bit of a slog. I was still able to do what I needed to do, but I'm really hoping that my endurance is increasing because it didn't really feel like it. Still, I'm moving forward & keeping at it. Bring on Monday!

Week 1, Day 2

Yesterday I felt a bit more sore than the day before. I was still excited to run/walk this morning. Didn't sleep the best last night, but have been doing good on getting to bed earlier for my earlier wake up time.

The run/walk itself felt more difficult today. Wondering if some of the initial enthusiam had worn off & just made it seem harder or if it was just because I was feeling a bit sore.

I did it though & felt good about it. Still excited & anxious to see a change in my endurance level. Bring on Friday!