Flashing back... in 4 parts

In an effort to catch you up on my life since March, I figured I'd get to crackin' on writing some blog posts. I agree. It's been awhile. So here we go:

Part 1: "I should have known!"

As many of you, my friends and readers, know, I have a sticker chart of goals for 2009. One of those goals was to finish a half marathon. I started conditioning myself back in December and officially started my 12 week training in February, to join my oldest brother, James and run the Parkway River half marathon in Sacramento, California on May 2nd.

I stayed super dedicated to my training. I never missed a day and some days I actually did two workouts due to my responsibilities at work keeping me so actively busy. I felt great! I even had a mini sticker chart for my training schedule. (For some reason stickers really motivate me). I bought new shoes with James while I was in CA for my birthday in February and purchased some running attire with his assistance as well.

I've always hated running, but because I was so consistant about doing it, it wasn't as painful as usual, until one day my knee started hurting. Well, it wasn't exactly my knee actually. It was more the inner area just to the medial side of my knee. I ignored it. I actually continued to ignore it for 6 weeks and well into March, assuming I was just a wuss.

I went on vacation for a few days in March and decided to let my body rest during that time instead of running, cycling, swimming, etc. When I got back home and back to the gym, I was in worse pain than ever before! Rest shouldn't cause pain, so I knew something wasn't right.


I went to a sports medicine doctor who bent my leg in every which way and I felt stupid when nothing hurt. At one point he ran his finger along my knee cap and I about jumped off the table. The Xrays showed my knee cap was shifted to the left and with me working it so much, it was wearing down the cartilage and essentially was becoming bone rubbing bone. Gross! and ouch! I was told no running for 6 weeks, no half marathon on May 2nd and I needed to start physical therapy at least twice a week.

So that's exactly what I did. Let it be known that I was sad sad sad, which totally surprised me. My spirits were kicked down and I was beyond bummed to have been so excited about doing this race and then BAM! I was out. It was discouraging to even go to the gym anymore because I was so limited in what I could do.

So I started seeing the physical therapist twice a week. What a team! They totally kicked my butt! They worked and strengthened pretty much every muscle in my legs and I was exhausted after every 2 hour + appointment.
After about 3 weeks, though, Ryan (click on the previous link if you're wondering who Ryan is)...Ryan was super confused as to why I was still having so much pain. He did a re-evaluation and quickly concluded the original pain was never actually my knee. Yes, the knee cap was shifted, but that was not actually causing me pain. That was just simply how my body has been my whole life-the cartilage was fine. It was my pes anserinus tendons that were causing me all the pain. My what? yeah. I had the same reaction. All I know is that it meant I'd be in physical therapy for 3 more weeks, only this time, focusing on the ACTUAL area of pain. RYAN and his team at Hand & Orthopedic are awesome! I highly recommend them!

So on Friday May 1st (The day before my should have been half marathon). Ryan told me I was allowed to try running again, meaning that after 6 weeks of physical therapy, I had officially graduated.

So I've returned to the gym and running outside, but only sometimes. The half marathon desire quickly went away, and I'd love to get it back, but I just have this feeling my body was not built to be a runner. "I should have known."