Aqua World

The good news: the ITB serious issue is pretty much gone. My PT has used the Graston technique which in simple words "scrapes" scar tissue. In only two sessions my ITB pain is 80% healed. I still have some pain at hip level where the ITB starts, but it is totally gone along the leg to the knee. Thanks Ben!!! and thanks to the foam roller.

The bad news. The bone bruise... is still there. The way of knowing is standing up putting all my weight on the left knee without using the right leg. The pain is right there in that little hole....

Because of these standing issues, my PT and the doc insist in NO running or weight bearing activity. My major concern is that my 16-week training plan for NY is scheduled to start the last week of July... How do I get there without running for 2-3 months? Well, my awesome PT sent me to the pool... for aqua running... which is said to be the training closest to running. This activity, done with a water belt in the deep side of the pool, may compensate for the missing running and help me to keep a decent base to start my marathon training with decent shape.

"The basic technique is similar to jogging (recovery running). The idea is to reach out with the leading leg and pull it through the water strongly and evenly. The trailing leg needs to be actively pulled forward (because of the increased resistance of the water) at the same time. The front foot should "land" in front of the body's centre of gravity. Keep the knees "low" and actively flex the rear foot at "push-off." Arm action should be as for land running.

"The elimination of weight bearing makes this an ideal method for rehabilitating or conditioning injured athletes, particularly those with foot, ankle, or knee injuries for whom running on land is contraindicated."

As an obedient patient, and after so many weeks of frustration, I finally decided to change my running world and went for pool shopping. I have done aqua running four times now, 2 hours each session, and I like it. I always have loved pools, so the water is very appealing to me and it is not bored at all, though... I'd rather be running....on the road... and my races... I miss them so much!

Anyway, I am playing with this set of cards dealt to me. I am in my new world: Aqua World.

PS: I am also biking twice a week at a light effort. I don't like it at all...

Desperate Runwife

I didn't know how desperate I was, until 4 weeks have passed.

The very day after Eugene marathon, my left knee started to hurt again on the bone bruise spot as it did the day after the injury. The reality check advised to back off for a month or two. I got my marathon, I enjoyed it, I PRd, and now is time to heal.

Traveling after the marathon for biz to Wichita helped me forget that I couldn't, shouldn't run. From my hotel, I saw the running path along the Arkansas River, and I ran along in my mind. We drove to Wellington in an infinite straight highway, and I ran along that road, in my mind too. That's all I could do.

Then I had to travel to Italy also for biz. My hotel located at the shore of Naples Bay let me enjoyed from my balcony all the runs of non-injured runners.

Four weeks have passed, and I am not in a better place. My bone bruise still hurt (I've found a way to check: sitting on a chair and getting up putting all my weight on the left knee, then, I feel it). My ITB, also in my left leg, started bothering before Italy.

I am having physical therapy 2-3 times a week hoping the healing process moves faster. I got one session last Wednesday for my ITB where I almost passed out. That intense it was. Today I had deep tissue intervention also for the ITB and it hurt a lot. All this for a happy ending. The therapist today recommended Graston Therapy, which breaks down and releases the scar tissue. I may start this therapy next week.

My Rock&Roll is in a month and I may not race it, but what does "I may" mean? I haven't run for a month, and I should not run now... "I may not race it" should mean "I am not racing it". $107.00, sunk cost, so be it.

My Race for the Cure is in a week, and I may decide to walk it with my son and survivors I met last year. "I may decide to walk it" translates "I must walk it". Trying to find the benefits of that. Timing in running has become my focus, goal, and obsession, and this injury and the possibility of non-running may have taught me a lesson (may). Walk and cheer for life, see the life that I have gotten from another perspective. 5k of walking is something to be proud of, especially, when I will do it with other survivors and my son. That companion of mine, that young man that is there for me in every race he can possibly be.

Despite of this, and all that cheering and positive thoughts, I need to go back to running. I am waiting for the right moment as I have NY in November, and I know it's better to wait now than to start my training injured.

I am desperate for joining again my weekly races. I am desperate for logging miles. I am desperate for posting running related blogs. I am desperate for putting my running shoes on. I am desperate for moving and feel the wind on my face. I am simply desperate. I am a Desperate Runwife.

A Runner Stranded By A Bone Bruise

Marathon Plan - Regressive Countdown - Week Two
04/19/10 - 04/25/10 - Week Total: 16.6 (still injured)

Three weeks before the marathon:

An idiotic sprint to shave some seconds of my 12K finish time, proved to be really idiotic. A crowd of 5K walkers arriving at the same time; a happy mom with a happy baby in a happy stroller in front of a happy me; a brusque lateral movement to avoid falling over mom and baby. End of the race. Great. I felt like a million bucks... till 24 hours later.

Monday: left knee hurt just by walking. Not at rest, nor bending, squatting, bringing knee to the chest, nor biking, nothing. Only walking (Pain 6/10). We know the drill. RICE, aspirin or ibuprofen, arnica. Rest the knee.

Tuesday: continued hurting while walking, more RICE, more anti-inflammatory, more arnica. Stepped on the treadmill, at 0.1 mile it hurt, pain 7/10. However, didn't hurt if I walked with incline, so I did for 1.2 miles at 12%. No pain.

Wednesday: still hurt while walking. Panic. Marathon in 2.5 weeks. Called 5 orthopedic clinics and got an appointment for Thursday. Saw a physical therapist who moved my leg and knee in all directions and no pain was present. She concluded it was a bone bruise. RICE, ibuprofen, arnica, absolute rest in bed after work.

Thursday: Doctor's appointment. She tried to provoke the pain moving the leg and knee in all directions and pain was again, not present. MRI requested.

Friday: MRI, worked from home, at this point I decided not to RICE it anymore.

Saturday: Pulled out of a race "Wenatchee Half Marathon". Can't gamble. Stepped on the treadmill. 0.75 miles, it hurt. Stopped.

Sunday: Jogged very slow two loops around the lake (1.6 miles each). It felt good. No pain.

Two weeks before the marathon:

Monday: MRI results showed bone bruise of the medial side of the patella. Doctor said no running, no nothing, from 2 weeks to 6 months. How do I know? No clue. Come in two weeks. When I asked about an explanation of the MRI terms, she answered: I don't have time to go through the MRI details. I already explained to you with the drawing I did.

Because I had a Mother Theresa moment, I contained myself and didn't tell her what I should've told her (i.e.: Should I ask for another appointment to go through the details so you can answer my additional questions? Who pays the bill here?). The type of doctor that is not a person, not common in the US according to my experience, but definitely they exist. This doctor is from Seattle Orthopedics International. I highly NOT recommend her EVER.

I needed a runner's experience. Somebody that has gone through this to learn how he/she recovered... and while googling I stumbled onto ultra-marathoner Annette Bednosky. I would say her case was way more serious than mine. After she fell multiple times running a 100K in Dec 2007, she hurt afterwards doing pretty much everything (e.g. elliptical, bike). Her MRI diagnosis: a moderagte bone bruise. On February, one month after the MRI, and two after the injury, she was back to running, not at her best, but she was back. Case accepted as my model.

My physical therapist told me the same that the doctor told Annette: Use pain as a guide. And so I did. On Monday I jogged 3 miles and stopped as soon as it hurt. Backed off for two days. On Thursday I jogged the first 1.6 miles and alternated jog/power-walk for two more loops for a total of 4.8 miles. I had more of a soreness than pain (3/10?). Backed off for two days again. Pulled out of my last race before the marathon, a 10-miler in Rochester, WA (I like the place, don't I?)

Sunday, Today. ONE WEEK BEFORE THE MARATHON:
I went determined to make my decision. Planned on a 8-10 miler at marathon pace with the mandate to stop as soon as it hurt. It didn't hurt. I completed 9 miles with no pain, none whatsoever. Should I assume I am healed? If pain was my only parameter to know, then Eugene is a GO. I am giving up my initial goal of a sub-5 after three weeks of extreme tapering, but that's OK. I am thankful that I am able to run and I am relieved.

I will continue taking care of the knee, not running for a couple of days. On Wed I'll have my final run before the marathon. Then a 4.5-hour road trip on Friday with son and daughter in law. I'll enjoy the stay with my cousins Alvaro & Gladys and their two daughters, Mariale & Camila....I will run in Pre's territory and visit the place of his accident. We'll drive the course to know where I will be running. This will be the first marathon out of my state and may be the trigger to start my 50/50 quest.

This is the story of A Runner Stranded By A Bone Bruise that felt like a runner stranded in the eight inning, but with the chance to win the game in the 9th.