Running coming to a track near you

It's almost 2013 but then you know that. I am walking 60-90 minutes 3-4 x a week. Most other days are around 30 minutes. My knee is on the mend. Still some residual stiffness but I mostly feel that after long periods of sitting even with my legs stretched out. My plan is to introduce some very short periods of running during my walks. When I say short, I mean (((short))). 5-10 seconds in each minute after a suitable warmup. Over January and February I'll extend the runs until they engulf the walks. Hopefully by the end of February I'll be good to go. If it takes longer, that'll be okay too. Go where (as in good to go)? I have no idea. Just being able to run again. It's been about three months since I last took a normal albeit slow jog.

Surgery

I had meniscus surgery a week ago. The surgeon took out about 10-15% of the meniscus cartilage in my right knee. I was up and walking right after the operation. My son and I drove to a Starbucks and I picked up a coffee and a scone. No pain until the painkillers wore off that evening but 3 Aleve and a shot of whiskey (call it the big NO NO) took the edge off the discomfort and by the next day I was fine. Knee was stiff, tight and swollen but I could hobble. The next day after that, I could walk around and two days later I was walking the dog.I am walking 60-70 minutes now. No running until January 2013. Doc said 3-4 weeks but I have decided to make sure I am totally healed up.

Meniscus Surgery

The MRI showed a tear in the white zone of the meniscus so no choice in the matter. I decided on arthroscopic surgery which will take place next Thursday. Doctor says I'll be running in 3-4 weeks. I'll probably just take the rest of 2012 off and start again in after new years. Until I start running, it'll be walking and rehab.

MRI

Saw an orthopedic doctor on Monday which led to me having an MRI on Tuesday. We're looking for a potential meniscus tear. Hopefully if there is one, it is small and can either heal on its own or via arthoscopic surgery. In any case I am out of running for quite a while.

Walking AND running

Been walking and running for the past several weeks. Usually 60-90 minutes 4 x a week with 30 minute "walking the dog" in between. Leg has good and not so good days. Nice case of tendonitis. Using cross friction massage over ligament.

Enuf said

Going off line until I can run again I am walking...enuf said.

Life of the walker

Walked 80 minutes on Thursday. The first 30 was with Lucy and the last 50 with Madelyn and Danny (after he had run Valle Vista). Wednesday and Friday were both 30-35 minute strolls with Lucy. My leg already feels better for NOT pounding it Thursday (aka running). As Madelyn stated, if you told her twenty years ago that eventually she would be walking on the track, she would have said we were nuts.

A Walker Again

I had to make a tough but smart decision which was to STOP running. The MCL ligament sprain was causing me to limp while walking. Funny ( not ha-ha ) that I could run with no pain but was gimpy just getting out of a chair. I figure if I kept going that it would effect my knee eventually. So I have shut things down for whatever period of time it takes to walk around with no pain at all. On a happier note: The A's overcame the Texas Rangers and have won the AL West. The Oakland Coliseum was sold out! Hard to believe. 13 games behind the Rangers in late June. Best record in MLB from June 30th onward. Bung Ho!

Go figure that one out

Another one legged run ;-) 73 minutes including some time with my buddy Danny. I got the deep tissue treatment yesterday and my leg was pretty sore but serviceable. Probably felt okay because I had taken two days off. Between the MCL ligament sprain and a sore knee, I am up against it. Most of the discomfort is when I first get up after sitting for a lengthy period of time. No pain while running. Go figure that one out. I think the massage has helped the MCL ligament and I am working the knee. Hopefully I can overcome this but if it persists then I'll take some time off.

In the meantime, incredible A's season. A team that was expected to lose 100 games is battling for the division title. It's a lot like the 2010 Giants.  Too bad the owner is such a no op but the GM, manager and players have come together. They're in the playoffs regardless but if they win the division it'll be the million volt shocker of the season. Enjoying this immensely.

Ken Napier RIF 1932-2012

Took it really easy today. Ran 38 minutes over at WVC while the club ran Valle Vista and celebrated and mourned Ken Napier's passing. The celebration part were stories about Ken. He certainly was one of my mentors and targets back in the 1970's. I chased him for five years (1972-77) before I finally beat him in a race. Of course he was the first to congratulate me. Madelyn made black ribbons which we all wore. Mourning...but while I'll miss him, I didn't feel too sad. Death freed him from his life, not a life, that he was living. In this case freedom was more important than life. RIF Rest in freedom

Blondes and brunettes

I know that this log is often repetitive. But that is what running is. Constant repetition and hammering day after day or in my case every other day to stay in some sort of shape. The only logs that contain my racing accomplishments reside in hand written log books and calendars that are in a box in the garage. At some future date someone will toss them out because they are really of little value to anyone but me and I rarely if ever read them. With that in mind, I take pen in hand.... Right.....cough...cough... Okay, keyboard in hand and share with whomever reads this, that I ran 70 minutes in the fog this morning, an hour of it with my buddy Danny. The tall blond was back tattooing her own pattern on the track. There was also a tall brunette running in lane five who almost ran us down (we were in her lane after all).

Another....

Another 70 minute run followed by five minutes of walking. Very slow. Danny ran most of the way with me. We circled interior loops on WVC. Pathetic and repetitive course but we like it. Tom was back walking pain free. Tall blond girl with long legs running on the track over striding big time.

107 minutes

Big minutes today. 30 minutes walking Lucy our 16 week old Golden followed by 77 minutes of running with 14 x 200 strides at an 8 pace with a 100 meter jog in between each 200. D kept the time of each 200. I was leg weary during the early stages of the run but got stronger as things progressed.

Lucy and I walked the path next to the track. First time doing this since Amber and I tread this same route in January of 2010. It was deja vous.

52 minutes

I took two days off after running Tuesday and Wednesday. This morning I ran the college for 52 minutes while the club did its workout which was half tennis court loops or .33 miles. I did a campus loop warm down with Danielle to cap off the run. The inside of right knee has been bothering me walking around but not when I run. It seems to be some sore of tendon or ligament issue.

Ice, ibuprofen and massage.

Lost and Found

A rare back to back during the week. I ran 72 minutes with 63 up in Edgewood Park and the Redwood City Hills. Rick, my running buddy got us good and lost but also got us found again as we finally ended up back at where we started right on time. He has a knack for doing both. This run had plenty of long hills both going up and coming back down.

72 minutes

72 incredibly slow minutes in the morning including an hour with Danny.

More striders

Ran an hour in the morning including 12 x 200 striders at Foothill with Dimitri.

Rogue Runner

I did an easy 45 minutes over at the college. The club was doing campus loops. Typical run. Not a great deal of pep. Slogged through and went to breakfast afterward. I have to change my approach. Recovery really stinks. Going to think this out. Time to go "rogue" again.

72 minutes

Ran 72 minutes around the neighborhood and then over at WVC with my buddy Danny. With Tom gone we stuck to loops on the campus. Pretty boring but it seems to suit us. Tom sent us an email. He's on the Yangtze River. It took him an hour to get on line. Slow boat. Slow connection. First day since having Xiaflex manipulation that my right pinky finger felt decent. The swelling was down ( not gone ) and I had a fair amount of flexibility.

Circle The Wagons!

Tom's in China and Danny locked his stuff in his other car. But we got in a run anyway. 70 minutes circling the wagons at WVC.