The hurt knee? Self diagnosed "runners knee". NO, not to me!

Last Wednesday I am running and thinking all is good. Running with a great guy (from here on referred to as Ted) thinking I CAN do this, it gets better all the time and I am feeling confident! I am doing about 12-15 miles a week, still a slow run/walk pace but doing it!  Did I mention I have not exercised in....well ever really.  I am happy and thinking about a long weekend skiing the next few days with my sons, Ted and his two kids, while deciding where I will run during this time away from home.

All of a sudden toward the end of mile three I feel a slight twinge/pain in my left knee.  Surely this is nothing, not to worry, I don't have aches and pains, nor do I get sick or pay a lot of attention to occasional odd sensations.  All is better Thursday and I forget about it.  

Now it's Friday and to the slopes we GO!  I am not a terrific skier by any means but I do enjoy it and I take the easier blues and greens to go slower than most.  Well we all skied quite a bit and then came back for night skiing till 10 pm.  Yes, what can I say, now my knee hurts and it's not just a twinge.  So I put some BioFreeze on it, take aspirin and go to bed.  I wake up Sat and it is considerably better.  We hit the slopes again...gradually the pains starts and I ski less during the day, by the time we went back at night, I think I only did two runs.  My little 10 year old son Michael Patrick wanted to go up for the final run but I just couldn't do it, so Ted stepped up to the plate as he always does and took him for me.  

Home on Sunday, knee is at a dull ache, I am just treating symptomatically with heat, aspirin, BioFreeze and rest.  I am missing my long 5 mile run with Team in Training and feeling like I am getting behind.  Even more so because I have not run now for 4 days.  So I am ready on Monday to make it up.  Ted and I start out Monday and the pain came back quickly and by the time we hit one mile we had to stop. I could hardly walk back and was limping considerably.  More symptomatic treatment and an appointment with an orthopedist tomorrow.  I am almost sure what it is but I need a quick heal.  Time is of the essence now and I am getting nervous over...well just about everything.  

My new motto will be "slow and steady" like a turtle. I should have listened to my little sister.  She just kept saying "don't hurt yourself".  I knew better even thought she is the Ironman Triathlete in the family.  I'm just a nurse but knows all.