I went for another little jog last night on the OC&E trail, and other than the fact that I'm extremely out of shape actually felt fairly good. I headed west from the parking lot on Reeder Road so I'd have the wind at my back on the return trip (it was a pretty stiff wind), and ALMOST felt like a runner. My Achilles only hurt for the first 200 yards, and my right knee loosened up after about 600 yards. It wasn't what I would call pleasant, but I felt that MAYBE I'd be able to continue running on a more consistent basis. When I got home I still felt good...no major pains, no stiffening up...good signs that perhaps I didn't do too much too soon.
Today is another story. I just walked the 2 1/2 short blocks from our parking area to the office, and it was brutal. My Achilles is definitely not healed. In fact when I got to the office, I seriously considered calling my wife to see what doctor I should make an appointment with. I probably won't visit a doctor, but I don't know that I'll be running for awhile.
I was planning on an every other day running schedule for a couple of weeks...maybe I should back it off to every third day, or every fourth day, or maybe just wait 6 months and hope that I don't look like a hippo by that time.
Any advice?
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
Back in the Game!
It's been almost 1 1/2 months since I last posted, and it HAS been a full 1 1/2 months since I last ran. I felt pretty good when I got off work today, so I thought I'd go for a little run when I got home. My Achilles has been kind of tender, but hasn't been bothering me like it was earlier in the year.
My run, if you can actually call it that, almost killed me. I went really slow, and I didn't go very far (3 miles total, with about 1/2 mile walking in the middle) but because I've turned into a blimp and haven't done anything since the last part of April I have no wind and no endurance. It's pretty brutal to try to push my big belly into the wind on the OC&E Trail...I'm really glad there weren't too many people out there to see me.
Right now the attachment point for my Achilles is pretty swollen, but it doesn't hurt too much so I'm hoping I didn't do any lasting damage. I'll see how it feels in the morning, but I think that I might actually be back in the game! Wouldn't THAT be sweet! It's amazing, but running really is addicting. I wish that I had started at an early age, instead of waiting until I was 39! Looking back, that was really pretty young...it's hard to believe that almost 16 years has gone by since we left Newport and moved to The Dalles. I don't remember being as attached to riding as I am to running, even though I know I rode quite a bit over the years.
We'll see what happens in the morning...if it's not bothering me tomorrow, I'll try to go for another little trip. Here's hoping!!!
My run, if you can actually call it that, almost killed me. I went really slow, and I didn't go very far (3 miles total, with about 1/2 mile walking in the middle) but because I've turned into a blimp and haven't done anything since the last part of April I have no wind and no endurance. It's pretty brutal to try to push my big belly into the wind on the OC&E Trail...I'm really glad there weren't too many people out there to see me.
Right now the attachment point for my Achilles is pretty swollen, but it doesn't hurt too much so I'm hoping I didn't do any lasting damage. I'll see how it feels in the morning, but I think that I might actually be back in the game! Wouldn't THAT be sweet! It's amazing, but running really is addicting. I wish that I had started at an early age, instead of waiting until I was 39! Looking back, that was really pretty young...it's hard to believe that almost 16 years has gone by since we left Newport and moved to The Dalles. I don't remember being as attached to riding as I am to running, even though I know I rode quite a bit over the years.
We'll see what happens in the morning...if it's not bothering me tomorrow, I'll try to go for another little trip. Here's hoping!!!
Monday, May 4, 2009
Still Hurt
I think I'm permanently crippled! I ran last week, and haven't been able to do much of anything since. My Achilles felt okay while I was running, but hurt quite a bit after I sat for awhile (yes Laurie, I stretched after I finished my run!). Since then it's been very tender, and takes some time to be able to walk without limping. When I got up this morning I considered going for a run at lunch because it's raining and I love running in the rain, but when I walked the 2 1/2 blocks from our parking area to the office I decided that that was probably foolish. But then I started looking at our blogs, and after reading Laurie's blog I got excited about going for a run again, so I might actually give it a shot. We'll have to see what happens.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Back on the Road Again
Great news!!! I went for a little run today, and 9 hours later my heart is still beating! I decided that I've been on the injured reserve for way too long, so my lunch break today consisted of a 2 1/2 mile run on the OC&E Trail. Because of a jacked-up Achilles Tendon I haven't been able to do much of anything since Presidents' Day...and I'm back to square one as far as being in shape. I managed to put back on all the weight I lost when we did the Basin Belly Buster, and in fact added a pound or two. I'm a great example of what eating 2 full pounds of See's Dark Chocolate Buttercreams between the Valley River Center and Klamath Falls will do for one's physique!
I'm kind of anxious to see if I can run again tomorrow... right now my Achilles is kind of tender, and my hip on that side hurts quite a bit too (I'm afraid that I was running more lopsided than normal to try to not strain my tendon, and may have screwed something else up). Getting old definitely isn't something to look forward too, and I'm not doing it gracefully.
I don't have any idea how fast I ran the 2 1/2 miles, and at this point don't really care. The important thing is that I was able to run the full distance...and didn't wind up dead in the ditch along the trail.
I'm kind of anxious to see if I can run again tomorrow... right now my Achilles is kind of tender, and my hip on that side hurts quite a bit too (I'm afraid that I was running more lopsided than normal to try to not strain my tendon, and may have screwed something else up). Getting old definitely isn't something to look forward too, and I'm not doing it gracefully.
I don't have any idea how fast I ran the 2 1/2 miles, and at this point don't really care. The important thing is that I was able to run the full distance...and didn't wind up dead in the ditch along the trail.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Nothing to Write About
Well sports fans, it's Sunday evening, and I have nothing to write about. I still can't run, so I can't blog about my workouts, and I'm determined not to complain about work so won't even mention that. Guess that leaves my general state of health.
I'm a little worried about my Achilles tendon. It feels stiff and is tender when I get up, but has improved enough that I can walk on it without limping. By the end of the day, however, it hurts to the point that I'm limping noticeably (sp?). I ran about 10 steps this morning while I was feeding the horses just to see how it felt, and think that maybe I should wait another week or two before I try to go for a run.
Since it's been over a month now since I was last able to go for a run, it will be almost like starting over when I actually do get to go. I'll have to be very careful, because I have a tendency to try to do too much too quickly, and I don't want to aggravate my injury.
Since I know that Laurie and Tom are the only ones that read this blog, do you guys have any suggestions to combat my injury? Do I completely forget about running until there's no hint of pain? Or should I try to run, and hope that exercise will help it heal? As I mentioned a post or two ago, the pain is where my Achilles attaches to my heal...it's not higher up on the tendon itself. Do you think it may just be an inflammation, or maybe some type of tendonitis? If that's the case, do you think a healthy dose of ibuprofen would help? Or would that just temporarily deaden the pain and heighten the risk of exacerbating the damage?
Help, please! I need your advice.
I'm a little worried about my Achilles tendon. It feels stiff and is tender when I get up, but has improved enough that I can walk on it without limping. By the end of the day, however, it hurts to the point that I'm limping noticeably (sp?). I ran about 10 steps this morning while I was feeding the horses just to see how it felt, and think that maybe I should wait another week or two before I try to go for a run.
Since it's been over a month now since I was last able to go for a run, it will be almost like starting over when I actually do get to go. I'll have to be very careful, because I have a tendency to try to do too much too quickly, and I don't want to aggravate my injury.
Since I know that Laurie and Tom are the only ones that read this blog, do you guys have any suggestions to combat my injury? Do I completely forget about running until there's no hint of pain? Or should I try to run, and hope that exercise will help it heal? As I mentioned a post or two ago, the pain is where my Achilles attaches to my heal...it's not higher up on the tendon itself. Do you think it may just be an inflammation, or maybe some type of tendonitis? If that's the case, do you think a healthy dose of ibuprofen would help? Or would that just temporarily deaden the pain and heighten the risk of exacerbating the damage?
Help, please! I need your advice.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Slacker......
Well it's been a full 2 weeks since I last posted...and it's been almost 3 weeks since I last ran. What a slacker!!!
My last run was on President's Day, and I was definitely not in good shape then because of inconsistent work outs. When I start running again (maybe I should say IF I start running again), it'll be brutal.
I actually have a legitimate excuse for not running...my Achilles tendon is toast. I'm not sure exactly how I injured it. I was playing basketball with Doug at the church, and didn't have any problems while we were playing, but by the time I got home it was very tender and hurt to walk. We drove up to Eugene right after playing ball, and when we got out of the car at the Valley River Center it was stiff enough that I couldn't walk without a pretty severe limp. (Not even a trip to See's Candy cured it!!) That was on February 21st...two weeks ago...and I STILL can't walk without limping. This strain is different than ones I've had in the past, because it hurts right on my heel, instead of up higher towards my calf. Hopefully in the next week or so the pain will subside enough that I can start running again.
Things at work are not the best. We've hired a 40 something friend of Greg's who calls him to complain about us. We were told the week before she got hired that because of the economy we weren't going to be doing any hiring, and then presto chango...Greg's worthless friend comes to work. I'm starting to get fired up just thinking about the situation, so I think it's time to quit writing. I'll post a little more information when I'm in a better mood...time to quit!
My last run was on President's Day, and I was definitely not in good shape then because of inconsistent work outs. When I start running again (maybe I should say IF I start running again), it'll be brutal.
I actually have a legitimate excuse for not running...my Achilles tendon is toast. I'm not sure exactly how I injured it. I was playing basketball with Doug at the church, and didn't have any problems while we were playing, but by the time I got home it was very tender and hurt to walk. We drove up to Eugene right after playing ball, and when we got out of the car at the Valley River Center it was stiff enough that I couldn't walk without a pretty severe limp. (Not even a trip to See's Candy cured it!!) That was on February 21st...two weeks ago...and I STILL can't walk without limping. This strain is different than ones I've had in the past, because it hurts right on my heel, instead of up higher towards my calf. Hopefully in the next week or so the pain will subside enough that I can start running again.
Things at work are not the best. We've hired a 40 something friend of Greg's who calls him to complain about us. We were told the week before she got hired that because of the economy we weren't going to be doing any hiring, and then presto chango...Greg's worthless friend comes to work. I'm starting to get fired up just thinking about the situation, so I think it's time to quit writing. I'll post a little more information when I'm in a better mood...time to quit!
Monday, February 16, 2009
Wicked Wind
I just got back from another little jaunt on the OC&E Trail, and it was BRUTAL!!! I haven't gone for a run for over a week...the day I last posted was the last day I ran, and that was a really short (2.5 mile) run. I haven't been running consistently since before Christmas, so I haven't gotten in very good shape...and today I found out just what being lazy will do for your conditioning.
The weather in Klamath has been pretty miserable for the last week. We've had snow, rain, temperatures in the 20s, rain, grey skies...it's best described as BLAH! If you've read any of my prior posts you can gather that I look for any excuse not to run...basketball games, practices, missionary discussions with Ed, wind, cold, heat, church, too late, too early, work...the list is endless. I didn't go Friday because Doug had a game, didn't go Saturday because it was cold, didn't go yesterday because of church and I had a killer headache, and wasn't gonna go today because the weather is nasty. But when I got up this morning, I knew that if I didn't run I probably wouldn't run again until March, and even though I'm not in good shape I'm in better condition than I was in October prior to running. It's easier to stay in some kind of decent condition than it is to get there from scratch, so that motivated me to get out of the house and go.
So how did the run go? Right now the temperature in KFalls is 34, and I've been home for over an hour. The wind is starting to die down, but we have gusts that are still reaching 25 mph. The sun is hidden behind a thick layer of clouds...no one in their right mind is on the bike path. I started out going into the wind, which was blowing directly from the east (the OC&E Trail at this point runs directly east and west). I knew that since I'm not in the best condition, I'd never make it back to my truck if I went the directon I normally go...I needed the wind at my back on the return trip. I planned on going out 1.5 and turning around, but almost died just short of the halfway point and wound up walking the last 50 yards to the mile marker. I don't like being a quitter, so decided that I would go 50 yards PAST the marker before I started back to make up for walking...and wound up walking half a mile past it instead. I felt foolish walking, but couldn't force myself to run into the wind anymore. The run back was pretty nice...2 miles of flats with a steady 20 mph breeze at your back lets you feel pretty good about running!
I ran into Ron Smith about 3/4 mile from my truck, and stopped to talk to him for at least 30 minutes. He is planning on giving up his head coaching job after this season...mainly because it's not fun to deal with the idiot AD at Henley (see my post on Northly News). Smith talked about Stephanie quite a bit, and told me to tell her "Hi"...so if you read this Steph, Smith says he'll really miss coaching you this year. He also asked about the rest of the North brood, so other than Tom (who was too lazy to run and played baseball instead of doing track) he wishes you all well. He mentioned that he thinks Tim Cleland probably won't make it through the baseball season this year...and told me that he'll be trying to recruit Doug if something goes wrong with baseball.
Since I managed to hit the trail again, maybe this can be a starting point for a little consistency. I think I need to look for reason TO run, instead of looking for reasons NOT to run. If Laurie or Tom were here I could use them to motivate me...but since Laurie's stuck in Eugene, and Tom is in Happy Valley I'll have to depend on their blogs.
We'll see how I do the rest of the week. Doug has a game tomorrow night, Ed and the missionaries are coming for dinner Wednesday, I have no excuse yet for Thursday, Doug has a game in Phoenix Friday, we're going to Eugene Saturday, McMinnville on Sunday..............
The weather in Klamath has been pretty miserable for the last week. We've had snow, rain, temperatures in the 20s, rain, grey skies...it's best described as BLAH! If you've read any of my prior posts you can gather that I look for any excuse not to run...basketball games, practices, missionary discussions with Ed, wind, cold, heat, church, too late, too early, work...the list is endless. I didn't go Friday because Doug had a game, didn't go Saturday because it was cold, didn't go yesterday because of church and I had a killer headache, and wasn't gonna go today because the weather is nasty. But when I got up this morning, I knew that if I didn't run I probably wouldn't run again until March, and even though I'm not in good shape I'm in better condition than I was in October prior to running. It's easier to stay in some kind of decent condition than it is to get there from scratch, so that motivated me to get out of the house and go.
So how did the run go? Right now the temperature in KFalls is 34, and I've been home for over an hour. The wind is starting to die down, but we have gusts that are still reaching 25 mph. The sun is hidden behind a thick layer of clouds...no one in their right mind is on the bike path. I started out going into the wind, which was blowing directly from the east (the OC&E Trail at this point runs directly east and west). I knew that since I'm not in the best condition, I'd never make it back to my truck if I went the directon I normally go...I needed the wind at my back on the return trip. I planned on going out 1.5 and turning around, but almost died just short of the halfway point and wound up walking the last 50 yards to the mile marker. I don't like being a quitter, so decided that I would go 50 yards PAST the marker before I started back to make up for walking...and wound up walking half a mile past it instead. I felt foolish walking, but couldn't force myself to run into the wind anymore. The run back was pretty nice...2 miles of flats with a steady 20 mph breeze at your back lets you feel pretty good about running!
I ran into Ron Smith about 3/4 mile from my truck, and stopped to talk to him for at least 30 minutes. He is planning on giving up his head coaching job after this season...mainly because it's not fun to deal with the idiot AD at Henley (see my post on Northly News). Smith talked about Stephanie quite a bit, and told me to tell her "Hi"...so if you read this Steph, Smith says he'll really miss coaching you this year. He also asked about the rest of the North brood, so other than Tom (who was too lazy to run and played baseball instead of doing track) he wishes you all well. He mentioned that he thinks Tim Cleland probably won't make it through the baseball season this year...and told me that he'll be trying to recruit Doug if something goes wrong with baseball.
Since I managed to hit the trail again, maybe this can be a starting point for a little consistency. I think I need to look for reason TO run, instead of looking for reasons NOT to run. If Laurie or Tom were here I could use them to motivate me...but since Laurie's stuck in Eugene, and Tom is in Happy Valley I'll have to depend on their blogs.
We'll see how I do the rest of the week. Doug has a game tomorrow night, Ed and the missionaries are coming for dinner Wednesday, I have no excuse yet for Thursday, Doug has a game in Phoenix Friday, we're going to Eugene Saturday, McMinnville on Sunday..............
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