[hup]

Let's see if I can do this without writing a novel.<br><br>
Last summer I injured my knee playing Senior League Baseball. I had it looked at and was diagnosed with a sprain(?) It got better, but never really back to 100%. I was, however, able to resume running. In November I started training for the Napa Valley Marathon. Training went well, and I was able to complete all of my workouts and long runs. As the training cycle went on, and as my miles increased, I felt more and more discomfort in my knee, especially after my long runs and harder workouts. I just figured that it was the residual effects of the "sprain".<br><br>
This past month brought longer runs, a couple of races, and more knee pain. I kept telling myself that if I could just run through it and make it to my taper, the knee would calm down and I'd be able to get to the marathon ready to go.<br><br>
Last weekend (the first weekend of my taper) I ran a 5K race on Saturday (ran well despite some real pain) and then went out on Sunday for a 16 miler. My knee felt bad, but I just told myself to run easy and I could rest on Monday. At mile 12 of the run, I stepped off of a curb and my knee just gave out in a shot of pain. I went down in a heap. I got up, but had to sit for a minute. I finally got up and hobbled home. My knee was killing me. I took the entire week off of running. My knee felt better after the rest days, so I decided to take an easy run yesterday. About 4 miles in I felt the same sharp pain, but luckily I managed to stay upright. Mrs hup was with me, and we walked home together. I urged her to go ahead, but she insisted on staying with me.<br><br>
On the walk home I finally accepted the fact that I had been denying for at least a month or more. My knee problem isn't minor, it's not going away on its own, and running this marathon would be a pretty dumb thing to do. Even though I know this decision is the right one, it still stings a lot. It doesn't help that my running for the past year or so has been plenty lackluster, and that and my general lack of self esteem make me feel like a loser .... and wondering if I'll ever be able to run the way I want to again.<br><br>
I don't mean to depress anyone. I just needed to write this down.

 

[ksrunr]

Hup - sorry for you sad news. Sounds like a second opinion of that "sprain" may be in order? Sounds more serious than that. Hang in there.

 

[hally]

{{{{{{{{Hup}}}}}}}}<br>
You are so not a loser and no reason to have low self esteem. You injured something and it needs time to heal. That's what we are here for, even though the lovely MrsHup understands and is supportive. Write it down, whine, throw stuff, be crabby. Heal<br><br>
Barb

 

[Sans Souci]

Aw (((hup))). So typical to be worrying about depressing <i>us</i> when it's <i>you</i> we care about.<br><br>
Get that knee checked out, get yourself a good rehab plan, and you'll be back to run again the way you want.<br><br>
We've all been in states of denial with injuries. The timing is never good, often at the peak of training.<br><br>
Please let us know when you get that knee checked out. I know it doesn't help right now, but there are things to be gained during rehab. I learned more about x-training during my last, most serious, injury, and I think I'll be a better athlete in the long run as a result.

 

[JJJessee]

{{{Hup}}}<br>
This is worse than a sprain but<br>
the sooner you get a good handle on the problem<br>
and start the proper rehab going<br>
the sooner you'll be<br>
back out on the trail<br><br>
sooner is better<br>
right?<br>
jjj

 

[millbot]

Very sorry to hear this, hup.<br><br>
About nine years ago I was in the middle of marathon training. Everything was going well until, in a freak accident, I suffered a partially torn ACL. I thought my running days were over, but I was fortunate enough to work with an encouraging orthopedist who convinced me that I could recover and, yes, I could run again. Of course he was right. It took a while, but the day did come when my knee felt 100%.<br><br>
The smartest thing I did was to get good medical help and give myself plenty of time to rehab and rebuild.<br><br>
You can do it, hup. And as others have said, when you overcome this, you will be a better, smarter runner.

 

[evanflein]

In 2006 I came down with totally debilitating shin splints while training for the Napa Marathon. Peak of my mileage, just before my last 20 miler. I tried that last 20 miler and had to quit at 11. Three weeks of cross training and rehab, I was barely patched together and should've DNS that race. But I did it. It was ugly, but I finished. Took weeks to recover where I could run again.<br>
Later that year I sprained my ankle with a bad slip on my last 20 miler before the Equinox. Another should have been DNS, but I did it anyway. Again, ugly stuff. I had to stop running for 5 weeks afterward and start back oh-so-slowly.<br>
I was stoopid. You are not. You are also so not a loser. Take care of yourself and you'll be back stronger than ever. There will be other marathons.

 

[Mustang Sally]

Hup...<br><br>
My heart goes out to you. The pain creates immediate stress, the lack of good running creates more, and being forced to contemplate being put out to pasture is the killer.<br><br>
I'm so glad you have Mrs Hup in your court. You will heal - and the sooner you get good advice about what's wrong and what to do about it, the sooner you can concentrate on helping your body do its thing.<br><br>
Hang in there and keep us posted. I've learned more watching Souci and some others around here deal with injury than I would reading a year of "65 MPW, I rock" posts.<br><br>
You, too, rock. Hang in there.

 

[Econo]

(((hup)))<br><br>
See you in the pool? It's always nice to have company there.

 

[RunsTheBitterroot]

Hi Hup! That injury has to suck. Certainly it doesn't depress me and I don't think you are a failure at all. Hope that you get that knee completely rehabed soon so that you get out there and pound out some more great miles. Larry

 

[jura]

Hey Hup,<br>
sounds to me like a great opportunity to brush up on the old swim strokes. Also, let me remind you that we have a lovely master's swim thread on this board that always welcomes new posters!<br>
You'll be back on the road, but until that time you will have great fun doing other things<img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif">.<br>
So see you in the pool, maybe?<br>
j<br><br>
PS.: Hi 'cono! Great minds...

 

[Cashmason]

You are NOT a loser. Pig headed about ignoring injuries - yes Loser - no.<br><br>
Beware the power of the Dark Side ( Triathlon). It is calling you.<br><br>
Can you cycle or swim without pain? (PS: Cycling helps running.)<br><br>
Cash

 

[rochrunner]

I think that the knee is one place where you've really got to do the right thing and get good professional advice about recovery and rehabilitation, or else you risk doing irreversible damage. My best running friend kept trying to come back too soon on an injured knee, and eventually did so much damage that he can't run at all any longer.<br><br>
I'm not trying to be pessimistic about your situation -- just advising you to be really careful about how you handle it. I'm also a master of denial, so know exactly where you're coming from. So take it easy and come on back when you're ready!

 

[dtoce]

Govna'<br><br>
Sorry to hear about the knee woes. Get yourself to the doctor and find out what's wrong so we can hear more stories about baseball and running!

 

[Opie]

So that makes me Lt. Gov., I guess. You might remember I just had a DNS in Nov. I think you will come out stronger in the long run. I'll be looking for the news from your doc.

 

[tomwhite]

...Tough Call hup//.........But Smart.......<br><br>
this is the difference between<br>
Newbies and Veteran Runners.............Rest and Heal........<br>
(and cross-train like a WildMan)

 

[Aija]

((hup))<br>
Nothing sage to add here, not always being one of the wiser ones mesself. . . but I do echo the advice to get thee to a doc or physiotherapist. You can't know what or what NOT to do unless you know the root cause.<br><br>
Aija

 

[choovie]

{{{{{HUP}}}}<br><br>
Take care, my friend.

 

[dromedary]

Guv, that sux. Heal up. Vent alot here.<br>
{{{hup}}}

 

[henrun]

Henry, all runners are in a state of denial-that's where we live. I've had knee problems for years now that come and go. Last month I went to an orhtopod.-X ray was negative. He told me to run on flats and cross train (been swiming more lately). Marj's L knee has been very painful for the last month. Today she went to the doc-X ray negative-but referred for an MRI. We are both depressed about it but realize the human body is frail and we have to work to rehab our agonies.<br>
By the way, my race times have been going steadily downhill. At first I blamed it on aging, but I think it is closely related to the altered biomechanics of my legs.<br>
Just get some help and take one day and one step at a time.<br>
Henry