Last Thursday I tried to run for the first time in almost 2 weeks. The last time I tried to run I had to stop at 1.6 miles because the pain was too much in my knee. For the last few weeks while I waited for the MRI and results to be completed on my knee, I just ran in the pool and rode my bike on my rollers in the basement. Both allowed me to stop immediately if the pain came back, and the workouts were non-impact. So, when I decided to run on Thursday I ran on my treadmill figuring it would be another failed attempt.
I was excited by the fact that I ran 2.5 miles and stopped on my own without knee pain. For me, this distance isn't much but was more progress than I have experienced in 3 weeks. I also did 45 minutes running in the pool afterwards again without pain. I'll take it! Friday I had a good hour on my bike while the power was out as I had blogged previously, which was again a big accomplishment. Saturday was even better, I decided to try running on my treadmill again since I missed pool running while I was at an Eagle Scout Court of Honor.
I was proud to see my son Derek's friend Matt make Eagle Scout. I hope Derek too will be receiving his Eagle Scout rank this Fall... when he gets moving on his project. The project has been the downfall of more Eagle candidates than anything else. Its a real challenge to learn to project manage at 17 and if you can't manage a project you will have a very hard time completing the elusive Eagle Project. That's why only 4% of all Scouts make it to the rank of Eagle Scout.
Okay back to running... I ran 3.5 miles again on the treadmill without pain! I actually felt very good when I stopped and it seemed like I could have gone much further, but I chose baby steps in the way of progress. If I push too hard I will regress and I DON'T want that! I got up early Sunday morning and did another hour in the pool with my trusty side-kick Erica keeping me company again (it's nice to have my daughter keeping me company because its VERY boring doing pool running if I haven't said that recently). I felt great afterward but it was a hectic day... I brought my son and a few of my other Scouts to Scout camp for the week and will head back up there on Thursday to spend the last few days with them too.
Monday was the best day yet though. I finally got up the guts to head outdoors for a run. I put on my new New Balance 909 trail shoes that I had tested on the treadmill and headed out for a run on the trails at the local park. I did a few loops around the lake, ran a few decent hills (both up and down). I tested the new shoes' "Rockstop 2" layer on a very rocky trail and it works way better than my Salomon SpeedCross 2 shoes do at protecting the balls of my feet! They are very good shoes... weight of only 11.1 oz and with my orthotics they only weight 12.3 oz. Nice and light to fly along those mountain trails!
I feel much better about my recovery and I start physical therapy on Wednesday morning so I should be recovering fast now. I am very confident that I will get my 145 mi AT run done this summer as well as the Race to the Top of VT! Now that I can see success again, I need to get back to fundraising which I had all but ceased while I didn't know if I would be running this summer.
I am... Running for Other People's Lives!
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Scattershooting around the world of Scott...
Some days, one topic for a blog just won't do so I'll just scattershoot today!
I still really can't run any significant distance even though my very good orthopedist Dr Geiger (and I do mean that sincerely) saw nothing wrong with my knee in the MRI. It's almost not worth going for a run when you only go 2.5 miles, I barely get warmed up at that distance so its frustrating. I'm sticking with pool running for now where an hour is very taxing and rewarding... except that I smell like chlorine for the next 24 hours! I start a 4 week regimen of PT soon that Dr. Geiger feels will resolve what he suspects is a tendon inflammation on the outside of the knee.
On alternate days I do pool running and cycling. Today was my day for weight training and cycling but when the time came for cycling in the evening we had lost power due to an accident on Purdy Hill Road. Not to miss my workout, I hopped on my bike in my pitch black basement exercise room with my hiking headlamp on and rode for an hour. It looked funny to glance across the room at the mirrors on the wall and only see the reflective sidewall of my tires glowing in the headlamp light along with the reflectors on the spokes whirling around like crazy and the reflective material on my shoes spinning around as I pumped my pedals. No bike, no body, just glowing reflectors... very eery!
With July coming next week, my schedule for my AT run is in serious jeopardy. I am thinking about moving it to August or September but I fear that will leave me without any nightime support so I may end up carrying the absolute essentials on my back and doing the run solo from end-to-end with no support. I think I can manage that, I have a 1 pound bivy instead of a tent, I'll use a microfiber sleeping bag liner instead of a full bag, no pad, no pillow, and I'll buy food as I pass through towns on the way. It's not optimal, but its a whole different concept to consider. I'm NOT giving up on my goal.
Fundraising has been pretty bad so far, everyone is having a tough time this year. To tell you the truth, since my knee went south on me, I have not been pushing it either for fear of having to reimburse people if I had to have surgery like was originally thought. Now I'll get going again but I really don't expect the strong financial support I had last year. There has been lots of interest in what I'm doing by folks I speak with, but many also express regret that they can't get involved due to their financial situations. I totally understand that. Unfortunately, I know a bunch of very good people who are out of work right now and I can't even help them like I have been able to in the past through my personal contacts because the job openings just aren't there.
With hard runs being non-existent lately I have gotten into other activities that I hope will prepare me in other ways for my grueling runs I have planned in the next 6 months. I have taken up a lot more core strengthening exercises that are reminiscent of Yoga and Pilates (but not). I spend almost 20 minutes at the start of my alternate day strength workout doing core work on my abs, lower back, glutes, hip flexors, intercostals and serratus muscles. My glutes are extremely knotted which I suspect is what is contributing to the IT Band issue in my right knee.
I have also been doing more meditation-like time to clear my mind and visualize my goals. I haven't done a lot of this at rest lately... I usually take advantage of running on remote trails to clear my mind and visualize, but that tends to get me lost when I don't pay attention to the blazes on the trees (trail markers). It is very relaxing to sit at home quietly, eyes closed, and clearing your mind of all the clutter... its also hard for a person like me who almost MUST be doing 2-3 things at once to feel productive. I got back into this after visitng the site of Cheryl Jones-Reardon called www.themindfulpath.com which discusses the integration of yoga and meditation among other techniques to develop the capacity to be aware and awake in the present moment as it is... or mindfulness. Very interesting site with some good reading suggestions and even information about her classes and speaking engagements available around the state.
Enough of my scattershooting for today! LiveSTRONG my friends!
Oh yea... only a few days until Lance Armstrong starts his bid for an 8th Tour de France! I can't wait to cheer him on! Whether he wins or not, its fantastic awareness for the cancer movement and that is a huge service he's doing for so many people all over the world!
I still really can't run any significant distance even though my very good orthopedist Dr Geiger (and I do mean that sincerely) saw nothing wrong with my knee in the MRI. It's almost not worth going for a run when you only go 2.5 miles, I barely get warmed up at that distance so its frustrating. I'm sticking with pool running for now where an hour is very taxing and rewarding... except that I smell like chlorine for the next 24 hours! I start a 4 week regimen of PT soon that Dr. Geiger feels will resolve what he suspects is a tendon inflammation on the outside of the knee.
On alternate days I do pool running and cycling. Today was my day for weight training and cycling but when the time came for cycling in the evening we had lost power due to an accident on Purdy Hill Road. Not to miss my workout, I hopped on my bike in my pitch black basement exercise room with my hiking headlamp on and rode for an hour. It looked funny to glance across the room at the mirrors on the wall and only see the reflective sidewall of my tires glowing in the headlamp light along with the reflectors on the spokes whirling around like crazy and the reflective material on my shoes spinning around as I pumped my pedals. No bike, no body, just glowing reflectors... very eery!
With July coming next week, my schedule for my AT run is in serious jeopardy. I am thinking about moving it to August or September but I fear that will leave me without any nightime support so I may end up carrying the absolute essentials on my back and doing the run solo from end-to-end with no support. I think I can manage that, I have a 1 pound bivy instead of a tent, I'll use a microfiber sleeping bag liner instead of a full bag, no pad, no pillow, and I'll buy food as I pass through towns on the way. It's not optimal, but its a whole different concept to consider. I'm NOT giving up on my goal.
Fundraising has been pretty bad so far, everyone is having a tough time this year. To tell you the truth, since my knee went south on me, I have not been pushing it either for fear of having to reimburse people if I had to have surgery like was originally thought. Now I'll get going again but I really don't expect the strong financial support I had last year. There has been lots of interest in what I'm doing by folks I speak with, but many also express regret that they can't get involved due to their financial situations. I totally understand that. Unfortunately, I know a bunch of very good people who are out of work right now and I can't even help them like I have been able to in the past through my personal contacts because the job openings just aren't there.
With hard runs being non-existent lately I have gotten into other activities that I hope will prepare me in other ways for my grueling runs I have planned in the next 6 months. I have taken up a lot more core strengthening exercises that are reminiscent of Yoga and Pilates (but not). I spend almost 20 minutes at the start of my alternate day strength workout doing core work on my abs, lower back, glutes, hip flexors, intercostals and serratus muscles. My glutes are extremely knotted which I suspect is what is contributing to the IT Band issue in my right knee.
I have also been doing more meditation-like time to clear my mind and visualize my goals. I haven't done a lot of this at rest lately... I usually take advantage of running on remote trails to clear my mind and visualize, but that tends to get me lost when I don't pay attention to the blazes on the trees (trail markers). It is very relaxing to sit at home quietly, eyes closed, and clearing your mind of all the clutter... its also hard for a person like me who almost MUST be doing 2-3 things at once to feel productive. I got back into this after visitng the site of Cheryl Jones-Reardon called www.themindfulpath.com which discusses the integration of yoga and meditation among other techniques to develop the capacity to be aware and awake in the present moment as it is... or mindfulness. Very interesting site with some good reading suggestions and even information about her classes and speaking engagements available around the state.
Enough of my scattershooting for today! LiveSTRONG my friends!
Oh yea... only a few days until Lance Armstrong starts his bid for an 8th Tour de France! I can't wait to cheer him on! Whether he wins or not, its fantastic awareness for the cancer movement and that is a huge service he's doing for so many people all over the world!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Back to more positive things...
I felt better after heading to the local pool Tuesday night and doing 40 minutes of pool running. If you think watching paint dry is boring, try wearing a buoyancy vest and moving your legs like you are are running but barely going ANYWHERE while swimmers keep buzzing past you doing their laps in the pool. I go about 13-14 yards in 1 minute until my feet start touching in the shallow end and then I turn around and head back to the deep end... lather rinse and repeat about 20x.
I have to say though, its a great workout with absolutely no impact effects and because you have to pull your foot forward through the water you strengthen some muscles even more than normal running.
Yesterday morning I did 45 min on my bike on the rollers just spinning fast so that too was a good feeling though my knee did get a bit sore right at the end. If I have to get my knee repaired, I'm going to do everything I can to remain in top shape and have the best shot at still doing my AT run ON TIME! Either way, it will happen in 2009, even if I have to do it end-to-end solo during say September with no support.
I have to say though, its a great workout with absolutely no impact effects and because you have to pull your foot forward through the water you strengthen some muscles even more than normal running.
Yesterday morning I did 45 min on my bike on the rollers just spinning fast so that too was a good feeling though my knee did get a bit sore right at the end. If I have to get my knee repaired, I'm going to do everything I can to remain in top shape and have the best shot at still doing my AT run ON TIME! Either way, it will happen in 2009, even if I have to do it end-to-end solo during say September with no support.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
R4OPL Web Site Upgrades
This is proving to be an extremely hard year to get sponsors for my run. So many people are either out of work, have taken pay cuts (me included), or are worried about whether they will be next, that discretionary spending for charities is way down. Add to that the full court press by every panicked charitable organization during their fundraising campaigns and you end up with a lot of people with a charity migraine.
So I am working to find new ways to raise money... I have added a page to my web site with links to many different online retailers. If you follow these links and actually buy from these retailers, R4OPL gets a commission and 100% of that commission will be donated to our beneficiaries. I figure that this way you can help me while buying the things you usually buy, even if you can't afford to donate cash to my organization or to honor a loved one by adding them to my custom race shirt.
Check out the new section of my site at http://www.r4opl.com/buy_gear.htm
So I am working to find new ways to raise money... I have added a page to my web site with links to many different online retailers. If you follow these links and actually buy from these retailers, R4OPL gets a commission and 100% of that commission will be donated to our beneficiaries. I figure that this way you can help me while buying the things you usually buy, even if you can't afford to donate cash to my organization or to honor a loved one by adding them to my custom race shirt.
Check out the new section of my site at http://www.r4opl.com/buy_gear.htm
MCC Strawberry Festival
Just because I'm not running and training hard doesn't mean I'm not making other progress on my R4OPL causes. I spent the whole weekend at Monroe Congregational Church's Strawberry Festival (my church). It's a fabulous annual event that brings the town together on our historic town green and helps our small congregation meets its internal and community outreach budget goals.
My boy scout troop, Troop 63, camps out on the green both nights each year to make sure no one comes in during the night to create problems with the crafters' wares and we also help them set up their displays at the beginning and take them down at the end.
This year during the festival we had our own booth for the first time. The troop ran a "Timber Signing" to collect money for ScoutsCAN and I also promoted my Ultra Challenge run. The concept of a Timber Signing is that people pay $5 to write warm wishes on 2x4 lumber which will then be built into the actual homes of Habitat for Humanity in Bridgeport, CT. It was a great success, we raised approximately $285 over the course of the weekend for ScoutsCAN. Personally though many people were interested in finding out about my run, I only raised $25 for that, but I did continue to raise awareness for the underlying causes which are so important to me.
I am proud of the hard work my troop put into the weekend. Service to others is a big part of our troop and I hope that as the boys grow up, what we have accomplished as a troop will leave a lasting impression with them to continue to help others throughout their lives.
MCC and Troop 63... you all are awesome!
My boy scout troop, Troop 63, camps out on the green both nights each year to make sure no one comes in during the night to create problems with the crafters' wares and we also help them set up their displays at the beginning and take them down at the end.
This year during the festival we had our own booth for the first time. The troop ran a "Timber Signing" to collect money for ScoutsCAN and I also promoted my Ultra Challenge run. The concept of a Timber Signing is that people pay $5 to write warm wishes on 2x4 lumber which will then be built into the actual homes of Habitat for Humanity in Bridgeport, CT. It was a great success, we raised approximately $285 over the course of the weekend for ScoutsCAN. Personally though many people were interested in finding out about my run, I only raised $25 for that, but I did continue to raise awareness for the underlying causes which are so important to me.
I am proud of the hard work my troop put into the weekend. Service to others is a big part of our troop and I hope that as the boys grow up, what we have accomplished as a troop will leave a lasting impression with them to continue to help others throughout their lives.
MCC and Troop 63... you all are awesome!
I've been hiding...
Strange as it sounds I've been avoiding writing in my blog for the last 2.5 weeks since I didn't have anything positive to say. As I had mentioned in my last blog after my long test run, my knee was very painful at the end and I had to walk-run the last 1/2 mile or so home. Since then, I have not been able to run more than 2 miles without the pain returning. I was getting very frustrated!
I had self-diagnosed (that was my first mistake!) myself over a week ago as having an inflammation of the I-T (ilio-tibial) Band in my right leg and went on a crash course of stretching my glutes and hip flexor muscles as well as buying a foam roller to start doing very uncomfortable, but useful myofacial release techniques to lengthen and strengthen critical tendons and muscle fascia. I had no pain while pool running for up to 45 minutes and cycling for up to 1 hour but had not yet tried to run until Sunday, 6/14. I was convinced that I was going to run an easy 5K on my treadmill, get some confidence, and then head out on the road the next day for a real good run. Not so fast... I lasted a frustrating 1.6 miles before the pain was back and I was extremely discouraged.
I broke down on Monday and saw my GP who referred me to an orthopedist in Fairfield named Gregory Geiger. I saw him today and he ruled out ITB, tendon, arthritis, & bone issues which is good. What is bad is that I have to go in for an MRI now because he believes the issue is a tear in my lateral meniscus in the knee which will require arthroscopic surgery to repair if it proves out. BIG TIME BUMMER!
The good news that he gave me is that I can continue cycling and pool running to keep in shape, and a quick scoping may still have me ready to run my Utlra Challenge at the end of July... yea!!!
If you ever need a great orthopedist, Dr Geiger is one to consider. I hate Doctors of any type who will not spend the time to speak with you, explain what he/she finds, listen to you, and show concern. He did all of those things with me and even asked if I had any other general questions not related to my knee to run past him while I was there. That's the kind of doctor I choose to go to, that's kind of doctor whose opinion I respect and trust.
So for now I'll keep my fingers crossed, wait for my MRI date, and hope that they don't find anything worse than I already expect.
Live strong my friends!
I had self-diagnosed (that was my first mistake!) myself over a week ago as having an inflammation of the I-T (ilio-tibial) Band in my right leg and went on a crash course of stretching my glutes and hip flexor muscles as well as buying a foam roller to start doing very uncomfortable, but useful myofacial release techniques to lengthen and strengthen critical tendons and muscle fascia. I had no pain while pool running for up to 45 minutes and cycling for up to 1 hour but had not yet tried to run until Sunday, 6/14. I was convinced that I was going to run an easy 5K on my treadmill, get some confidence, and then head out on the road the next day for a real good run. Not so fast... I lasted a frustrating 1.6 miles before the pain was back and I was extremely discouraged.
I broke down on Monday and saw my GP who referred me to an orthopedist in Fairfield named Gregory Geiger. I saw him today and he ruled out ITB, tendon, arthritis, & bone issues which is good. What is bad is that I have to go in for an MRI now because he believes the issue is a tear in my lateral meniscus in the knee which will require arthroscopic surgery to repair if it proves out. BIG TIME BUMMER!
The good news that he gave me is that I can continue cycling and pool running to keep in shape, and a quick scoping may still have me ready to run my Utlra Challenge at the end of July... yea!!!
If you ever need a great orthopedist, Dr Geiger is one to consider. I hate Doctors of any type who will not spend the time to speak with you, explain what he/she finds, listen to you, and show concern. He did all of those things with me and even asked if I had any other general questions not related to my knee to run past him while I was there. That's the kind of doctor I choose to go to, that's kind of doctor whose opinion I respect and trust.
So for now I'll keep my fingers crossed, wait for my MRI date, and hope that they don't find anything worse than I already expect.
Live strong my friends!
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