Boo Hoo

Well, some heroic blog this is turning out to be. First I missed runs because I got sick, and now I’ve got some sort of knee issue to deal with. I hopped on the treadmill this morning just to get 5 miles in, but I hopped off in frustration after only a mile and a half. Things are not feeling great at all. And I have no idea what the problem is. It might be related to a calf stabilizer muscle, but I don’t know enough to say for sure. All I know is there’s discomfort that is telling me to stop and put ice on it.

I hate clichés, but this is turning into one: when it rains it pours. Or maybe the more appropriate one is “stupid is as stupid does.”

I’m sure this knee thing is minor. It has to be. I was able to do a fairly hard workout last night at the Sportsplex. We did two sets of 800m, 400m, 2x200m. The pace wasn’t overly fast – 2:34 and 2:38 for the 800s, 71 and 74 for the 400s, and 33-34 for the 200s – and I was able to complete the thing. But my knee didn’t feel fantastic, especially with all the tight turning on the indoor track.

So what do I do now? Just take the day and try again tomorrow? Take two days and then go back out on Saturday with the group? Make an appointment with the physio? I’ve still got over 11 weeks until the half, so I shouldn’t be panicking, but I’m sure feeling the stirrings of self-pity – I hate that feeling.

And it’s not like I even have a legitimate case for complaint – even less of one for feeling sorry for myself. I mean, last night Denise showed up to run some laps. She’s been battling back after getting a bunch of blood clots in her lungs – just like Serena Williams has now. What is it with world-class female athletes and blood clots? Someone should look into this. Anyway... the point is that she’s gone from being a world-class marathoner to not being able to get out of bed to working her way back to 8 minute miles (5:00/km) for an hour. And I’ve got a knee boo boo. Boo hoo.

Patience. The long run is all about patience – and paying for your mistakes. It’s going to be fine.