On Your Knees Boy! Week-4

Firstly, congratulations to Marty, Kelly, Sam, Jenn, and everyone else on the SCE team that ran the Oakland Marathon. Some great runs and great results. I ran with Kelly last Sunday at the tail end of her 70 mile week and she inspired me to run longer and faster. She'd put in a recent 20 miler and I thought to myself, I'd love to be able to do that, what a great goal for me.... without injury or needing 3 days recovery that is.

The Good News

So yesterday I put in 14 miles. Definitely my longest run since the summer after high school when I suffered through my one and only marathon. I've blocked out most of that memory but I had managed something close to 3 hours without proper training, and I paid a heavy price. But Sundays run was 14.12 @ a comfortable 7:48/mi pace. I was happy and functional the rest of the day and feel awesome today. My unofficial half marathon (13.1) PR is now 1:41:53! :)

The Bon Jovi News

At the beginning of the run, a car passed me and they were blasting Bon Jovi, "You Give Love a Bad Name".. It stuck in my head, for the entire 14 mile run. So I changed the chorus to "14 miles on a bad knee" and made up my own lyrics as I ran...

This weeks tally is 36 miles on the run, with a couple of swims and a couple of rides on the trainer. The rain was brutal so I biked in the living room.

The Bad news

I was thinking I'd run the Santa Cruz half coming up in a couple of weeks but I found out this week that I need to have a torn meniscus in my left knee repaired. Actually the torn part removed. (See the image on the left.) I'd had an MRI and saw the doctor on Thursday. I go in on Friday the 8th for Arthroscopic surgery, then I'm on crutches or the couch for the weekend. According to the Doc, I should be back at it in a month if that's all that's wrong in there. I could wait until fall and after the season to have this done, but that could cause some permanent damage to the cartilage resulting in a lifetime of pain. I can take the time off now and still be ok for later in the season.

I'll hone my swim skills while on the comeback. :) I have a great run and cycling base now and if I can get a few rides in on the trainer or jog on the track after a couple of weeks, I'll be good to go come May 1st. Wildflower is probably out of the question but that still leaves me 3+ months to get ready for a mid August shot at the old-guy triathlon National championship.

The big goals this year remain a sub 2 minute 800m and winning my age group at Triathlon Nationals in late August. I'm feeling really good about things, although worried about the upcoming recovery. For the first time I feel like I have a head start on the season, I'm ahead of any injuries and my base fitness is the best it's ever been. Last year I started out with an ankle problem and the year before I had surgery on my left foot. Maybe next year I'll start with no injuries whatsoever....

Thanks for reading and please send something to Japan. They still need your help.