BigCrazyJohn: January 2006

I'm very concerned about my left knee. I did the 14 mile run last Sunday on the 22nd in 2 hours and 10 minutes. A half marathon distance is 13.1 to help put this in perspective. This was a fantastic run for me, that is about a 9min 30second pace. It was a great run I loved it! I had a lot of swelling after my long run last Sunday and discomfort in my left knee. My whole body was very stiff and sore that day and the next, but the knee problem was worse than times of past, I felt the knee was weak, and it would give out so I was hobbling about that Monday aftewards. As you may or may not know I had dislocated my knee 3 times in highschool and had orthoscopic knee surgery. It wasn't like I had problems with my knee while running thankfully. The only problems I had during it were two blisters on my left foot and a tight right calf for a short period which i ran through, and it worked itself out. That might sound odd but, I've come to learn there are some pains you run through and some things you stop on. I've only stopped twice in the past year one of which was today.

I had seen an ortho Dr. towards the beginning of my training in November I asked if I should train and run a Marathon he said go for it. Of course he told me I had a bone spur on my knee cap. He told me to take Glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate. Here is some information on it. http://www.consumerlab.com/results/gluco.asp
I actually take Move Free and I buy it at Sams 180 ct. for like $24. Its the cheapest I've found even compared to the web. I take 4 pills a day. He also prescribed a physical therapist who i saw about 3 times in December. I have a follow up here in February. I didn't follow her exercise regimine but I have the streching perty religiously. The exercises were not complicated I just do so much exercise and running it was hard to fit that in too. BUT trust me I've started now but I feel too late. 3 Really simple exercises 3 times a week they seem to easy, they are basically 3 different types of leg raises which should increase strength and flexibility.

I didn't work out all last week Monday - Friday I just took it easy and WORKED WORKED WORKED. Yesterday and Today I worked out a lot! Today for example I did a hour long cycling class at 24 hour fitness which was a great workout and then I took a break rehydrated, and fueled up for a 2.5 mile jog 1/2 mile walk before and after. I felt pain in my left knee I had only planned on doing 2 miles so I stopped at 2.5. I've had discomfort and swelling earlier in my training with my left knee but I've just been working through it. I heard from plenty from friends, family and co-workers that all had their opinion on what I should do. From I'm not going to make it, are you going to make it, I should stop running, I shouldn't run so far just do shorter distances, you should take it easy, ice it, heat it, elevate it, etc.... This was all appreciated because most people were concerned, some to much so, and some were not supportive of my end goal, so this all was confusing and frustrating.

I'm pissed, I'm frustrated, I'm concerned. I've come over half way in my training to hit this kind of wall. I have two months before the race with an 18 and 20 mile training runs in my future. I can't explain how frustrating it is to work so hard and have your body give up on you when I have nothing but will power for once in my life to exercise. I've certainly had will power before but I've never experienced this kind of determination and enjoyment for a fitness goal before. I really felt defeated this past week. Not only because of the knee but I felt incomplete because I didn't work out at all. I had a great week at work and got news of our bonus on Friday, I feel very successful there. I feel so much better today for having worked out this weekend even though I have some concern about my knee. I will never go that long without working out again. I don't care if I just have to work out my upper body.

Really in the big scheme of things this is nothing compared to what the people with Leukemia go through. Imagine going along in life and your body really giving up on you and you having to fight it just to stay alive. I'm not trying to compare my little crisis to anything they have to go through such as the disease symptoms or the cure. They may have Anemia (low red blood cells) causing discoloration of the skin and respratory difficulties. Leukompenia - increased risk of infection. Thrombocytopenia or Thrombocytosis which can cause excessive bruising or bleeding difficulties. Certain forms of Leukemia can also cause, swollen, painful, and bleeding gums, tumorous cells form on skin or body parts, shortness of breath, coughing, suffocation, headaches, seizures, weakness, vomiting etc... Of course the cure kemotherapy and other drugs can cause a lot of damage to the body as well. So I guess in a very very very small way I can begin to understand what they go through as far as rejection meaning I've certainly hit my limitations with my body with my knee problem and having a protein C resistance a blood disorder which I have to take a blood thinner(Coumadin) for. So I'm going to quit whinning about my problems. As Lance Armstrong says "Live Stong" and that is exactly what I'm going to do!

On another inspiring note, I watched the World Championship Ironman Triathlon in Kona Hawaii on the Outdoor Life Network this weekend. It was amazing to watch it was also amazing to see a guy with ALS aka "Lou Gehrig's Disease", two men in wheelchairs, a woman with a prosetic leg, and a 80 year old man compete in this, of course they didn't win or beat any time records but they certainly made their own records and accomplished something for theirselves and family's. It was also a impressive and inspiring site to watch. I really would like to compete in a Triathlon but one thing at a time :-) I'm great on a bike, but I can't swim worth a damn. After watching the Triathlon I'm reinspired. I also have thought about why I'm doing this which is to help support the people that have to deal with Leukemia and Lymphoma. I don't care if I have blow out my knee in the process and crawl across that finish line on April 9th I'm going to finish. I am determined to work through this knee problem, and get past this road block.

I talked to my Physical Therapist last Monday she gave me some good advice and tips, ice 3 times 20 minutes, ibruprofen morning and night to decrease swelling, cross train (bike and swim instead of some of the runs during the week) cut back mileage last week (I really cut it back to nothing work got in the way for the first time and I was just kind of defeated), stick with the long mileage on the schedule. If I don't I could make it worse while running the actual Marathon.

I have to thank everyone for supporting me and the concerns they've shared. My mom for helping me coordinate my small letter campaign. My Dad for being a great cook and assisting in fueling this running engine. My sister Kathy for being an inspiration and for calling me and letting me vent last Friday night. Joe my good friend for volunteering with me at Savis. I am especially appreciative of the generous donations that have been made towards my fundraising.

Continue to check on my fundraising status on active.com site.
http://www.active.com/donations/fundraise_public.cfm?key=tntgmoJDrury

Continue to check on my running progress and my knee concern on my blog.
http://bigcrazyjohn.blogspot.com/

Some things I'm going to do which I hope help resolve this, or help me work through it.
1) Reschedule my Dr. appt I had Friday I missed because of work hopefully I don't get charged for it.
2) Do the exercises the Physical Therapist prescribed religously 3 times a week.
3) Follow up with Physical Therapist hopefully new insurance covers it.
4) I'm going to do more Cross Training, swimming and cycling in place of some of the daily runs during the week.
5) Get back on the running schedule.
6) Get new shoes as soon as I can afford them, help cusion my knee.