The last year has been constant ups and downs with my knee injury. For that entire year, I have constantly remained optimistic, thinking that I have to be just about out of the woods. I finally got fed up, as I realized that optimism and reduced training were not enough to cure my patellar tendonitis. In early January I finally broke down and made an appt. with Jeremy Rodgers at Colorado Sports Chiropractic in Louisville, upon the advisement of my friends Steve and Claude who have received successful treatment there.
After 6 visits, I feel that I am on the right track to getting better. I'll admit that I was hoping for an instant cure, but I am realizing that I have to continue to be patient. Specific strengthening exercises, a chopat knee strap, DMSO cream and gait modification seem to be helping, but the results are not as immidiate as I had hoped. My knee is feeling stronger, but I am still occasionally feeling delayed onset pain after hill workouts (that is about all I can bring myself to do).
The fire is burning deep to get out there every day and pound up and down the hills. Not getting out is not due to my laziness at all (as I sometimes fear or accuse myself of), but the conservative attitude I have developed regarding my knee, compounded by the cold weather, short days, new 8-4 work schedule etc... have really cramped my recreation time as of late.
I always debate whether or not I should get out for a hill run, as I fear that even though I might feel great on that day, I might be setting myself back in the long run regarding my overall objectives. I debate whether or not I should be putting in base now, or just holding off until I am 100% sure I am over it and fully ready to achieve my 2008 goals.
For the past year, I have felt as though I have been floundering in no-man's land. I have had flashes of form, dusting old PR's by minutes, at lower heart rates, then completely coming unglued at Pikes Peak, my favorite race and most important objective of the year. Inconsistency has been the theme.
My optimism remains high and enthusiasm for the season is building everyday. Hopefully I can put my doubts to rest this year. As my doctor Jeremy says.... As we get older, we have to really carefully consider what the difference is between an injury, and the body's normal reaction to the intense demands we put upon ourselves.
Sierra
Sierra
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Green Mountain
2/09/08
6.5 miles
2,500 vertical
57up/2hrs RT
Allison, Homie, Sierra and I got out for a nice hike/run up Green today. The weather was relatively warm, low 50's, but a little breezy and cool at the top, but overall quite nice. Took it quite easy on the up and down which was fine by me. I went a little faster for the last 14 minutes, but ended up being quite slow with all the drifted snow and postholing. Working on maintaining good form and cadence which is fine on the smoother, low angled, dry sections of trail (rare), but a bit more difficult to execute on the snow, ice and steep.
6.5 miles
2,500 vertical
57up/2hrs RT
Allison, Homie, Sierra and I got out for a nice hike/run up Green today. The weather was relatively warm, low 50's, but a little breezy and cool at the top, but overall quite nice. Took it quite easy on the up and down which was fine by me. I went a little faster for the last 14 minutes, but ended up being quite slow with all the drifted snow and postholing. Working on maintaining good form and cadence which is fine on the smoother, low angled, dry sections of trail (rare), but a bit more difficult to execute on the snow, ice and steep.
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