The Diagnosis Is......

Today, I saw my sports physician to see what the deal was with the knee pain.  She was the most adorable, cool, and understanding doctor I have ever been too.  Her husband is a runner and she totally understands that I am going nuts not being able to train.  Sometimes It is frustrating seeing a Dr. for a running injury because they don't understand that I have knee pain from running 70 miles a week, not from being an overweight 70 year old.  This lady totally got it.  I wanted to kiss her when my x-rays showed I did not do any serious damage.

And the diagnosis is.....................

PatelloFemoral Syndrome

Copied from Runnersworld.com....

....patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS), or simply "runner's knee," is the most common overuse injury among runners. It occurs when a mistracking kneecap (patella) irritates the femoral groove in which it rests on the thighbone (femur).

I am pretty sure it happened the day I was sprinting up and down hills in anger at 7:25 pace just a week and a half after the marathon.  I am a dummy.


I am just thrilled that it is nothing super serious, my Dr. reassured me that I should do rehab for about 3 weeks to strengthen my muscles and I should be good.

The only hard decision to make is whether or not I should change the marathon I picked (Marine Corps, Oct. 30th) for a later race.  My training calendar says I should have started this week....It's a hard decision to make because I LOVE MARINE CORPS MARATHON and two of my best running buddies (Kate and Leslie) are running.

Any suggestions on a later fall marathon?  I was considering Philly.  It needs to be a fast course!!!

Although I have been off this week, I have been SO BUSY putting Bruno through my own doggie training camp.  I am determined to have him fully trained and ready to be a well behaved pup for when we go to Mexico July 17th and the best sister-in-law Maura Rushlander cares for him.  He slept for 7.5 hours STRAIGHT in his crate last night without a whimper!!!  He had no 'accidents' today and pooped outside twice and peed outside four times.  I am so proud. 

Penny and Bruno love to chase each other and pretend to bite.  Sometimes, I put them in 'time-out' when they get a little too rough.  I got very concerned when they both disappeared under our couch together.  It was so hilarious when I saw them just chilling together with their tongues hanging out.  Look at these knuckleheads!

Making Mischief

I am all for any late fall marathon suggestions!

More Sore Two Days After

I think I made an important discovery.  It seems to me that I am not as sore the day after a race then I am two days after the race.

Sunday, I waited till later in the day to do my run from home, to help give me a little more recovery time.  Penny woke me up at 6:30 that morning so I didn't get to sleep in but wasn't really tired at all.  (I felt it today).  By the time it came for me to get my run in, it felt GREAT.  I was working around the house, so it was a welcome relief.  I was thrilled I was able to keep an 8:11 pace through the hilly neighborhoods, sad as it is, I have struggled to get under 9 minute pace some days around here.  Eeek.  My calves were a little sore, but I felt like I had a lot of energy.  I did an ab workout and some extra stretching after.

This morning, getting out of bed was ROUGH.  I am blaming it on the time change and my Iphone.  I set my alarm to go off at 5:40 so I could get to the gym and lift before school.  My Iphone was wacked up and the alarm rang out at 4:40.  I had a tough time going back to sleep for an hour, and when I did, my alarm woke me up yet again and I was out of it.  Needless to say, the lifting was skipped and pushed back to the afternoon.

At school, we learned about Leprechaun and I dyed the water in the water table green when the kids were at snack.  They are convinced that a Leprechaun went swimming in our water table, and it was so fun to talk about it all day.  Tomrorow, he will be writing the kids a note and leaving them a St. Patrick's Day beach ball.  We are also making play-do from mashed potatoes!

After school, I parked at the highschool for an 8 miler.  I was determined to stay under 8:27 pace for this easy run; two months till the Pittsburgh marathon and I thought I should be pushing myself a bit more.  Last spring, I felt like I had a really great period of training from January - mid March, then I fizzled.  Not happening again!  I was able to run about 8:20 pace for the run, but boy did my muscles burn.  On the upside, it felt good to be out since the sun was shining and it was a tropical 42 degrees.  I lifted at home while Penny kept dropping toys on me.  I had to be careful not to swing my 15lb dumbbell in her face. 

Tonight we had leftovers of the best, easiest dinner.  The recipe is not that complicated.

Chicken BBQ

4 chicken breasts
bottle of BBQ sauce
half a chopped red onion
Cook for 8 hours on low in a crockpot

That is it.  I am quite the fan.  Tonight, I put it over top of a baked potato and Jordan just ate it plain.  Last night we made sandwiches, but I think I prefer the potato method. 

A baby picture of Penny, since the day after my birthday (March 21st) is the anniversary of when we aquired her.

Baby Penny - Note one floppy ear

Tomorrow's workout: 12 miles total 20 minutes at tempo, 3 minutes easy, 20 minutes at tempo, 3 easy, 10 minutes at tempo...a little scared of this one.

I Love Being Five Years Old

I think I am a preschool teacher because I love being five years old.

A brief list of examples (there are many more)
1) I was very excited to bring my screaming rubber chicken (see below) to school for Show and Tell Friday. I let all my friends squeeze him so they could hear the funny noise he makes. Penny is terrified of the chicken and hides when he appears.

Small 12" Rubber Squawking Chicken Kids Adult Novelty Gag Joke Toy

2) I have over 200 children's books on shelves in our office. I claim they are for the kids at work but I really like to read them.

3) I wore a barbie shirt to work for casual Friday.

4) I have a ten o'clock snack time every morning.

5) I LOVE peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Especially with chocolate milk.

6) SNOW DAYS! TODAY IS A SNOW DAY!!! I CAN'T WAIT TO PLAY WITH PENNY IN THE SNOW! Anyone want to sled ride???

What is exciting is that I did NOT find out about the snow day until 7:45. At this point, I was about 2/3 done with my hard (treadmill) workout, running my ladder repeats to Desperate Housewives Season Three. So I was almost done with my hard workout, and I had the day off. AND my awesome husband shoveled the driveway :).

The workout:
Had to use the treadmill, since the roads were very covered. It was a fun treadmill workout, you should try it.

8 miles total
1.5 mile warm-up at about 8:27 pace - I think speed 7.1
Intervals: 2 minutes hard, 1 minute easy, 3 minutes hard, 2 easy, 4 hard, 3 easy, 5 hard, 4 easy, 4 hard, 3 easy, 3 hard, 2 easy, 2 hard
Hard done at 7:03 pace, which was speed 8.5
Easy done at 8:34 pace, speed 7.0
1.5 mile cool down

I was a little afraid of going any faster because I felt like I might fall off the back.

Did some abs, and now I am done with my workouts for today! Cross your fingers my work training tonight will be canceled and that I can spend the day cleaning, writing lessons, doing laundry, and playing with Penny in the snow!

Come over if you want to sled ride!

Cute Penny baby picture for your enjoyment.