Connie's Cause

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

2009-03-10T15:36:00.000-07:00

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.

Garmin What?

2009-02-26T16:02:00.001-08:00

What's this Garmin thing? Garmin 305, Garmin 405? What's it do and how? I am a brand new runner. And I am on a plan. I am on a mission. I need to run. I need to run x many miles x many days. And I hate the treadmill. Period. What is one to do? Right now I don't care about Heart Rates. I want to know how far I have run and how fast. Period. And I don't want to spend a fortune--I would much rather give it up to my cause....

My sister says I can use the old fashioned way of getting in your car after the fact and mapping it out...or there is http://www.mapmyrun.com/ which is always good but requires way too much planning.

What do you do? Is this thing worth it? I will let you know as my research begins...

But for now I am off to run with my team--GO US!!

Chio
Connie

2009-02-25T18:13:00.000-08:00

2009-02-25T16:50:00.000-08:00

Racing to Save Lives
Connie Clark"From Couch Potato"To Marathon Runner

I'm training to participate in an endurance event as a member ofThe Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training. Allof us on Team In Training are raising funds to help stop leukemia,lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. I am completing this event in honor of all individuals who are battling blood cancers. These people are the real heroes on our team, and we need your support to cross the ultimate finish line - a cure!

When I first told my daughter I was going to do this, she said "but you don't run". Well I do NOW! I started running this past Wednesday for 2 miles, walked 6 miles yesterday and just finished 4 miles with the TNT team this morning. It WAS difficult, but very rewarding to know I was doing this for the real heroes we believe in. I am motivatied! I don't give up and I am confident the team and support from them is what will help me succeed. After today's run I received a supportive email from my mentor and a phone call from my team member that recruited me. What more can I ask for?

Stay tuned and check for updates as I train for the marathon in San Diego on May 31, 2009.Please make a donation to support my participation in Team In Training and help advance LLS's mission http://pages.teamintraining.org/sc/rnr09/cclarkmqu5

I hope you will visit my web site often. Be sure to check backfrequently to see my progress.

Thanks for your support!
Connie