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.
