At this point I'll take any mileage, any way I can get it. It just feels good to do something. I continued to take it easy this past week. I managed to get in 6 miles on Friday, during a rare mid-afternoon run, but other than that I did nothing since last Saturday's nightmare long run. This past week was all about getting a handle with what was going on with my knee and accepting the challenges that lie ahead. Jeff had told me on Wednesday that he intended to do 10 on Sunday. Like a junkie looking for his next fix, I told Jeff to count me in. Knowing that I just got diagnosed with ITBS on Tuesday, Jeff compared me to a alcoholic saying that I showed some of the same tendencies. I hope I don't come into work one of these days to an intervention. Anyway, with the cool morning temps dipping into the low 30's, we decided to start at 7:30 in order to allow for a little sunrise warmth. My goal was to get as close to 10 as possible. We met at Granada park and my car's external temp said 32 degrees....Brrrr! Ok, although chilly, I loved it! Jeff had mentioned that he lost his iPod shuffle...bummer. I decided to go without tunes as well.....let's call it a sympathy sacrifice. I figured it would be rude to just tune him out...literally. Anyway, as we headed out it occurred to me that I'm cognizant of every step I take, always waiting for the step that sends that twinge. That twinge came around mile 3.25. My thoughts were to make it to 4 and turn around. Jeff was on board with this idea, stating that he could extend his run a mile out and back from our start point, keeping him on track for 10. I would finish at 8. Heading back, around mile 6, my body gave me a little gift! I experienced a "runners high" for about half a mile. It's been a really long time since I've had one of these. Again, for anyone who has never had one....your missing out. I've never experimented with drugs, but I'm hear to tell ya, it's gotta be comparable. Words can't describe the euphoria, and most important for me, no pain! I thought of making a comment to Jeff at the time but I didn't want to ruin it...so I just enjoyed it! Afterwards, I told Jeff about it and he told me about an article he read offering one explanation for this phenomenon. He said that the body builds up endorphins when it's expecting pain, and that this is a natural release of these endorphins. Given my knee problems, I'd definitely subscribe to this theory. Whatever it is, it's great! As we approached mile 7 the right side of my knee began to really hurt, as it has in the past week. Same problems as last week. Ughhhh! Mind over body, I told Jeff that I might be able to finish the full 10 with him. I know, I know....stupid, but it just who I am! I knew I wasn't gonna cause any long term damage by adding a couple of extra miles. F'U knee! I did finish the last 2 miles. The knee hurt, but I finished the 10. Three weeks away from Chang's, I'd love to show up at the start line for the half. I start physical therapy tomorrow. Hopefully this will help.....stay tuned! Activity
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Polar Express December 2010
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