Not Running Sucks

Running related ramblings from a runner who's just had knee surgery. I'm intending on charting the road back to recovery...

[rickyrunner-blog1]

"Slow, but moving..." Two weeks and a day since I last run. Knee has been causing me problems as mentioned below. Even as recently as this weekend just gone, the knee was sore when walking. I did feel some improvement yesterday, however, as the sharp pain moved away from the knee and became a low grade niggle at the top of my right leg in the buttock - piroformis-type location. I woke up this morning and did my little strengthening routine. I ran a little on the spot to test the knee and it felt good, so I decided to hit the road. Took it very gently and really tried to keep loose as I ran. Four miles later and although feeling a little worn out, the knee had held up. Maybe that half marathon could happen...

[rickyrunner-blog1]

More pain and misery

Right knee, just under the patella, is super painful. Walking is unpleasant. Running seems a far off dream. The Hackney half marathon in a few weeks' time feels highly unlikely at this point. In fact, I'm beginning to wonder if my running days are over...

[rickyrunner-blog1]

Pain and misery

It's getting on for three months since the knee op. and although I'm running regularly again, I'm starting to get some problems. Yesterday - March 26th - my knee "locked up" the way it used to before the operation. This is on top of some soreness behind the knee, some localised pain around the right ankle bone and some aches and pain in the calf, too. I'm pretty fed up. Especially because I'm strengthening and stretching religiously.

[rickyrunner-blog1]

"The Sunday Worship" My running app of choice: Runkeeper, let me down today, crashing after seven miles. Fortunately, trusty Mr GPS never does. A mile or so longer than I'd intended because I took a wrong turn on the final, unfamiliar stretch of my planned route. Never mind. Frustratingly, I arrived home to discover that the wife had headed off to a local boot fair, double locking the door to the flat before she did so. I was frozen by the time she returned! At least she bought back some lovely bits of jazz on vinyl and cooked me a splendid breakfast... 👍🏻

[rickyrunner-blog1]

"Longer..." 13.3.16 Up at the crack for the Sunday long run. And a good one it was, too! Walked down to the towpath to loosen up and then headed south in the fog. Turned around at Broxbourne - just shy of six miles from Ware - and headed back the same way. Right inner calf pain was there at the start, but it eased off as I ran. Made a real effort to keep loose, which seemed to work. I was especially pleased with how much energy I had as I began the return journey: mile seven was a real pleasure! Started to tire at about 9mi and swallowed an energy gel to rehydrate. Seemed to work well and I managed to maintain good form - at least it felt good - and pick up the pace for the final three quarters of mile stretch back to Ware. Right Achilles is a bit achy now, but other than that, I'm in fine fettle.

[rickyrunner-blog1]

"Getting quicker" Two full months now and this was my first post-work run. Felt great to be out among all the other runners. Knee a bit sore and still some tightness on the right inner calf, but I'm trying to run as loose as I can. Anyway, feel like I'm making progress and I'm concentrating on the half marathon in Hackney early May.

[rickyrunner-blog1]

"Slow progress" Better than no progress, I guess. So another week has passed and another Sunday run. 8.5 weeks now since the op and nowhere near back to where I was. To be expected, I suppose, and probably hampered by trying too much too soon during the half term. My knee had been aching all week at school. I'm starting to think that that might be the arthritis the consultant back in September told me about, because it causes no issues when I actually run. Started to get the shin splint pain towards the end of today's run; I'd gone about six miles over various off road terrain and decided to call it a day. I warmed down by jogging back and alternating between side steps, right and left, and bouts of running backwards. Iced the knee and my calf when I got back home, having first stretched, of course. We'll see how the day pans out. At least my cadence is spot on at an avg. of 180 steps p/min! 😆

[rickyrunner-blog1]

Crash

My running app, not me! Decided to forego the GPS watch and turn off the audio cues on Runkeeper that normally update me every mile to concentrate on form, instead. Was a good run on a mix of surfaces with both uphill and down. Even found a burst of pace on the home stretch to go past another runner who I could easily have just stayed behind. Nearly killed me though. Knee feels good. Shin splint pain absent. Achilles a bit tight and achy, but nothing a bit of foam roller attention won't fix. Maybe I'll be able to run that half in Hackney after all...

[rickyrunner-blog1]

"Pray" Day 50 It's probably about time I start talking in weeks... Seven weeks and a day meant my follow up appointment at the hospital. Had a nice chat to the consultant who talked me through what I'd had done and that they weren't in desperate need to do any further work. Because of the meniscectomy four years ago, I have a lot less cushioning in the right knee. In terms of the wear and tear on the bone, I have a fair amount of grade 2/3, where 4 is the worst and 0 is the least wear. Not ideal, but it happens over time anyway. Essentially, I can still run. I should "listen" to my body and not overdo it. If only 'twere that simple...

[rickyrunner-blog1]

TMTS

Day 48 Nearly seven weeks now since the knee operation. I've run several times and things had appeared to be going well. However, yesterday, in addition to the issues with my teeth - one of which was extracted - my right lower leg ached. Classic shin splints. Having first run on 7.2.16 & then again a week later, I then ran on the 16th, 18th & 21st. The last two runs of which were a little longer than previous. I've not only upped it too quickly, but I think I'm running in a slightly inefficient way, subconsciously protecting my right knee. Anyway, whatever the cause, it hurts. No running until at least the weekend...

[rickyrunner-blog1]

"Getting ready" Day 46 In the West Midlands overnight, so decided to go for a run first thing. We were staying in a little place right on the river, so I hoped that there would be a path I could run along. I was wrong. I did find a path to begin with. It was quite muddy and quickly veered away from the water. Before I knew it, the path angled me back the way I came. Not to be put off, I ran back past the hotel, up the hill and along the road towards Coventry airport. Pretty bleak it was too, although pleasant, temperature-wise. After 2.5mi, I doubled back and then ended up trying what I thought was another possible river path. It wasn't! By this time, I'd run about 4.5mi and felt like I had plenty in the tank, so I decided to run on past the hotel and see what I might find. I ended up doing a couple of laps around a big allotment that brought me up to just shy of 6mi. The knee was a bit tender on the inside right at breakfast an hour or so later. That tenderness seems to have gone, but it's a bit achy generally, particularly just under the patella. Follow up appointment on Thursday, so it'll be good to get some feedback from the consultant.

[rickyrunner-blog1]

"A little further" Day 43 Run #4 post op & this time decided to go a little further. The cloud dissipated, leaving the sky clear and bright: perfect for a run in the countryside. Started slowly to ease myself into it and then picked up the pace when it felt right. The last two miles felt quite tough, but I recognised the feeling of pushing through that was familiar in those first few months of running a couple of years ago. I guess I had taken my level of fitness for granted. Going to take two days off from running and try a 6-8 miler on Sunday up in the Midlands...

[rickyrunner-blog1]

"Getting there..." Day 41 Cold, crisp and bright this morning. My fingers are only now beginning to thaw... Slightly quicker than Sunday. Achilles felt much more amenable, which was nice. But still felt pretty tired towards the end. Hopefully, it'll soon start feeling a little easier, distance-wise...

[rickyrunner-blog1]

"Hard work" Day 39 Dragged myself out for a run. Similar distance to last Sunday, but felt tougher. The fact that I'm still under the weather probably didn't help. That and a pair of incredibly tight, achy Achilles. Time for some roller action methinks... Knee feels good and strong though. Which is great! Still a long way to go to be ready for the Hackney half in 12 weeks' time, though. Eek! 😁

[rickyrunner-blog1]

"Not 100%" Days 36 & 37 Feeling under the weather has become fully-fledged feeling awful. Dragged myself in to work today to conduct an interview, but left shortly before noon. Was really looking to another run this weekend. Now, that's looking unlikely. Something to look forward to: I've entered the Hackney half marathon. It's Sunday May 8th. That's 12 weeks this Sunday. Training has begun...

[rickyrunner-blog1]

"Set back" Day 35 Pain in the knee, today. Nothing major. Probably discomfort is a better description. Annoying, given how well things have been going lately. Gonna put it down to being under the weather, generally.

[rickyrunner-blog1]

"Arrival" Day 34 Seem to getting to work ever earlier these days. Today it was 6:32am. We have automatic, energy saving lights that are triggered by movement at school. It never gets old, clicking your fingers as you walk down the corridor and "make" the lights come on. Knee still feeling good. Was very tempted by a run when I arrived home, but coach - the wife - discouraged such a move. I have been instructed to wait until the weekend. I'm going to hit the gym at school tomorrow, once the teaching day is done, and do hit the rowing machine... Oh, and I finally have notification from the hospital: I've an appointment on Feb 25th... Only took five weeks! 😁 @rickyrunner