Screw perspective.

I want to run the Mini.

This revelation came to me last Wednesday during a ninety-minute consultation with a physical therapist, who diagnosed my knee problems as patellofemoral pain syndrome resulting from overtraining (too much speed, not enough rest) and switching into a shoe with too much pronation (mid-training, bad Frema!), which threw off my biomechanics and brought my kneecaps out of alignment. So, a little more complicated than just inflammation.

I went into my PT appointment with the same C'est la vie attitude I wrote about last time: There will be plenty more races in the future, missing this one won't be the end of the world, no use pushing myself to achieve a potentially unreachable goal. I was patting myself on the back for being so zen-like and reasonable and not assigning more value to the Mini than it actually deserved.

Then I learned that my physical therapist was a runner. And a parent. Who was also training for the Mini.

Being in front of somebody who knows where I'm coming from on a primal level made it almost therapeutic to talk about my struggles and challenges with training--balancing runs with work and home life, playing catch-up when building mileage defers to marketing deadlines and sick children--that it also reignited my passion. Somewhere between the flexibility tests, strengthening exercises, and random shop talk, I knew that I wanted to see this thing through. Of course I do. It's one of my biggest personal goals for 2010. I've worked so hard already, and in the hands of a healthcare professional more appropriately trained to help me with my problems, I could sense it was reachable. After all, the official goal has always been to simply complete the race. How I accomplish that (run-walk combo? baby-crawl to the finish line?) is up to hard work and fate.

Luckily, after a couple of visits and reviewing my progress, my PT agreed with me.

My first set of instructions were to tape both knees during the day to alleviate discomfort, do some exercises at home to build strength, and bike when possible until I could walk without pain (I think I did that once; cycling is boring at the gym). Once I could walk without pain, then it was time to run. SLOW running, he warned, since overexertion is one of the main reasons I got hurt in the first place, and short distances (no more than three miles), with plenty of walking breaks as necessary (another thing I was called to the carpet for--running through pain). I also have strict orders not to schedule my runs back-to-back; there has to be at least one rest day in between.

In the last week and a half I have been to three PT appointments and seen tremendous improvement. The gazillion exercises are annoying to keep track of, and I'm still not good at sticking to a running schedule, but pain is rare these days, with the primary sources being driving (bent knees in a fixed position) or standing in one place for long periods of time.

Because I've been feeling so much better, I broke the tape rule on Tuesday night when a hellish evening with the kids drove me out the front door the minute bedtime was done, because by then it was already dark and I didn't want to wait one second longer than necessary to hit the road, let alone the five to seven minutes it would have taken for me to properly apply the tape. The during part was okay--three miles, handful of walking breaks, 11.5-minute pace (if that, no Garmin to measure my stride)--but by the time I was sitting on my couch to catch the latest episode of LOST (fellow Losties: !), it felt like "shock waves" were running from my knees straight to my toes. I don't know how else to describe it except that it wasn't painful and 20 minutes of ice and elevation fixed the problem completely.

Needless to say I'll be wearing the tape for my next run.

That run should have happened last night, but even with this abbreviated schedule, training is getting tricky to coordinate. For example, on Monday Keith and I agreed that I would do short runs of three to four miles on Tuesday and Thursday and one long run of six to eight miles on Saturday. Reasonable mileage, adequate rest. Perfect, except on Thursday I came home late from work and Luke and the kids had been cooped up in the house all day and the weather was so gorgeous that we went for an after-dinner walk, which threw off bedtime by almost an hour, which threw off the rest of the night. Now I have to get my run in today and move my long run to Sunday, but that's going to throw off next week because I'm out two days for a sales meeting and there's a 5K walk we're doing for work and...

You see how I got into trouble, yes?

It would be so much easier if I didn't like running. It's time-consuming, unpredictable, hard. It pulls me away from my family, challenges my comfort zone (cross-training with free weights, hold me), and drives me to salivate over expensive gear. It seduces me into setting goals I might have no business contemplating--a marathon, maybe even an ultra-marathan, good Lord, am I crazy? I don't even know how many miles make up an ultra-marathon.

But for the peace of mind I experience while trotting along my trail, for the sense of accomplishment I feel when I hit my goal mileage, for the healthy example I'm setting for my children, is it ever worth it.

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Speaking of family, it's been a while since I posted any mugs of the Frema-Useless Clutter clan. Here we are, in the flesh.

My two favorite boys, with Nathan looking so very much like his daddy.

 

Kara enjoying tulips at the Indianapolis Gardens.

 

Nathan showing off his mad utensil skillz.

 

Are these kids shedding their baby skins or what? I swear they were babies, just yesterday. 

Comments

[Dawn]

It sounds like you've got a really good PT, which, YAY. Listen to them and you'll definitely be able to get through the mini. Which, YAY.

Also: your kids have gotten so big! How did that happen? Where did your babies go?

I had one more thing, but I have no idea what it was.

[DaddyD]

Good job on getting the right help to figure all the bio-mechanical angles. That is the weak link in most people. Take care and the best in your effort. You go girl!

[Molly]

You're so inspiring. I really mean that. Thanks for letting us come along for this ride.

[eva]

I'm so excited for you! And I hear you - it's impossible to keep up with all the stretches and requirements that physio recommends, but the taping and the appropriate footwear should make a huge difference, even if you can't get around to following everything else. Keep us posted and take care of yourself!

[rkmama]

So glad you've figured things out. With all the things you have to do in your day it's so easy to put aside what YOU need for YOU. I agree with Molly- very inspiring.
Love the pictures, but did you trade Nathan in for a GIANT BOY because I am not seeing your baby in those shots...

[Maggie]

Wow. Really wow on the running. Also - I had a hard time believing that was Nathan in that first picture at first! Your kiddos are definately getting big!

[Grandma Molly]

You have a beautiful new masthead with a meaningful quote.