1. How would you describe your running 10 years ago?
I used to run for *fun*, to stay fit and keep my weight stable ... a side benefit I found was that it was a great mood booster too ... If I was ever frustrated or upset about something at work or in a personal relationship I would just put on my shoes, go for a run, and all of a sudden things didn't seem so bad ... I never ran more than about 3 - 4 miles at a time (with the occasional 10 K thrown in there), but I ran almost every single day ... and sometimes 2 x in one day! Ahh ... to be young again!

2. What is your best and worst run/race experience?
Best - Little 3 mile Tri for Fun, just before IMCDA in June of 05 ... a "non-competitive" tune up pre-2nd IM. There is always this one woman who races these and is a phenomenal runner. I always get ahead of her on the bike by miles, but she ALWAYS passes me at mile 2 - 3 of the run ... but not that time! I beat her! Short and Sweet.

Worst - Silicon Valley Marathon 2006 - tried to qualify with a sub 4:00 marathon and my training wasn't the best - felt weak, sick and tired and ended up barely making it in 4:30. Embarrassing, frustrating ... painful. Not fun - the only time in my life I've been truly unhappy in a race situation.

3. Why do you run?
Stress relief, mood enhancement, comraderie, weight management ... why not?

4. What is the best or worst piece of advice you've been given about running?
Best: If you're tired, rest. Don't do the workout. You have more to lose than to gain ...
Worst: I bought this pair of running shoes once from a kid in a sports store - they were too small for my feet! I ended up with very bad foot, knee, hip pain ... arrggh. I was young too, and didn't realize the importance of a good fit.

5. Tell us something surprising about yourself that not many people would know.
I can play the piano. Not well, but I can do it by reading music, and lots and lots of practicing.

Now, here are my 5 Tagees:
• Wade E
• Carrie E
• Anna C
• Amy R
• Ilana G

Within one week I have increase my range of motion by 30 degrees or more. I have increased strength and am now walking without the aid of crutches. The BEST part of my rehab therapy is that I am back in the driver's seat - literally. I drove again for the first time on April 10th.

I have permission to go on a "real" walk, swim, and spin on a stationary bike starting now ... and Michelle is optimistic that I will be running again soon! I am thrilled beyond belief. In addition to giving me my physical life back, she has also given me a new found optimism. The depression that accompanied my month long disability has fallen away, and I am again feeling in charge of my own future.

Thank you Michelle!

If you've been reading my past entries you know that I had been planning arthroscopic knee surgery for awhile, due to an acute injury during the second lap of my Ironman Coeur d'Alene bike leg. As I stood up out of the saddle to climb a short but steep hill I felt something pinch and begin to swell in my right knee. Did I stop? No. Did I complete the marathon? Yes. Did my knee improve or get worse? Worse.

I did all the rehab possible without resorting to surgery to see if it would make the problem go away. It didn't. I booked the surgery for end of February and then got sick so had to reschedule. I was half tempted to cancel it altogether as I was at least walking and even running on flat terrain (low mileage) without too much difficulty and my VMO exercises seemed to be helping. But whenever I would ride, and especially try to climb, my knee would twinge again.

So, I had the surgery done March 10th. Doctor O. had diagnosed me with plica syndrome and posterior meniscus tears x 2. And that's what he found when he did the surgery. He cleaned it all out and when I went back for my day 1 post-op follow up visit he showed me the ghastly pictures. There was a plica the size of my thumb in there. No wonder I felt pain. Not only that, he said it was so hardened that it was acting like a knife and whittling away the bone it was adjacent to. Not good.

After seeing the before and after pictures I was so happy I had decided to go through with the surgery. Bottom line is that you don't know what's in there until you go in and take a look. Dr. O. said I was on a downward slippery slope and it was only going to get worse had I not had the surgery.

Pictures below are post-op of the incision sites and to show the swelling, in comparison to my normal knee. You'll easily figure out which is which.

This is day 20 post op and I'm still on crutches. Stitches are out but Dr. O. is not happy with the amount of swelling that remains. I tried to wean off two crutches too soon and put too much of a load on the operated knee. I'm milking this for all it's worth ... my dear husband is waiting on me hand and foot ... including chauffeuring me to/from work and all my appointments. I'm relying heavily on other family and friends as well, who have all proven their generous spirits. I am so thankful for everyone's help.

You definitely should not go through a surgical procedure without having your support network lined up.

Needless to say, I haven't been exercising in a l-o-o-n-n-g time ... and so I was determined that this past weekend I would get up off my lazy a-&-& and do something physical (besides operating the remote control for the TV). So I eased back into my workouts with a long walk on Friday after work, and a long walk/ short run on Sunday - I ran a whole 2 miles! It was exhausting ... and my legs were like rubber. Now I know why people who don't run, don't like running ... it hurts bad the first few times you do it!

As you can see, lots and lots of partying was done ... we had a blast with family over the holidays. First we were in Barrie, Ontario (Canada) with my brother's family and then down in London, Ontario with my husbands relatives. We saw lots of folks we hadn't seen in awhile, including aunts and uncles in Toronto. My out laws (husband's siblings) are pictured here.

We partook of the usual eating and drinking to excess, especially on New Year's Eve much to my own detriment the following morning when we had to get up after only three hours of sleep to drive two hours to the airport in a snow storm! Curses - my brilliant plan of sleeping in the car on the way to the airport was foiled. C'est la vie. We made it with plenty of time to spare actually, though we were concerned at several points along the way.

Wishing you and yours a very relaxing, and healthful Holiday Season!

Our plans include traveling home to Canada and spending time with my brother and his family. Instead of lying on the couch with my feet up I really ought to have been wrapping gifts, shopping, baking, etc. But as you can see from the picture, we were were doing none of the above. We were reveling in the spirit of the holidays, and enjoying each other's company as well as our festive surroundings.

My husband and I don't often spend time sitting side by side. Most of the time we're rushing to or from work, or to and from the gym, or cooking or cleaning ... but rarely do we just sit and enjoy each other's company. I have to admit that it was WONDERFUL and I hope and pray that we have many more evenings like this.

Goal was a sub 4:00:00 Boston Qualifying marathon time.

I felt like I could have done it (or close to it) two weeks ago, but not this week (three weeks of taper sucked it out of me). Next time I will not do a three week taper - I don't care what the pros say. It doesn't work for me.

Mentally I was ready to call it quits at mile 13, if I had seen my husband Peter there. We kept missing each other all day, so consequently I did not have an opportunity to DNF - I finished in 4:29:13.

At least I beat the 4:30:00 time - THAT was a matter of pride.

Good news - legs feel pretty good and I practiced a new hydration/nutrition strategy that I think will work next time.

I also got a really cool, pink and grey, dri-fit, long-sleeved shirt out of the deal!

Next time - I'm looking at the Napa Valley Marathon in March '08.

But just as before IMCDA in June, I'm wondering if I haven't been training too hard too late in the game, resulting in my feeling pretty tired. Some of that worn out feeling could be from the Thanksgiving celebrations this past week, with the hectic running around involved in shopping and preparing food and the stress of providing an appropriately "festive" atmosphere for our guests ... or I could be coming down with a bug (please no).

I hope it's plain old taper blues ... and not anything serious. I will rest, eat well, and take my vitamins daily ... there's nothing more that I can do ... que sera sera. I've bought, and broken in, my new running shoes, booked a hotel near the finish line, and am ready to give it my all. 4:00:00 or bust!

I'm on the edge - but I guess that's what makes it exciting, doesn't it? I mean, I just don't know what kind of day I'm going to have ... and I guess that's why I keep coming back for more ... and more ... and more ... I love the gamesmanship of it all - will the weather cooperate (I tend to do better in cooler conditions than hotter, and forget about humidity, but I don't mind rain) - Will my stomach be settled?- Will my knee flare up or stay quiescent? Will I be healthy? Will my allergies stay under control? With all the possible roadblocks in my way I should be happy really, if I just get to the finish line.

So here are my A, B and C goals:
A = sub 4:00:00
B= sub 4:10:00
C = sub 4:14:28 (my current PR) ... and lastly (just in case) ...
D = live to fight another day

I'm excited ... and at this point in my training I think that is a good thing. I have a few more speed workouts, and some solid tempo runs to put in, but basically, I'm in taper mode now, and really looking forward to my race. I think the hard work is paying off and it feels good.

Oh, a-n-d and after my 2nd 20 miler this past weekend, I finally have enough running miles in one week to generate a Parrot prediction - and guess what? It's awfully close to 4 hours - whhaa whoo (04:02:40 to be exact) - now that's a positive sign ...

Then life got in the way. Her horses demanded attention, then jobs, then there was the job of trying and trying to get pregnant. Back then her determination paid off, and she had her little one - now that keeps her busy. There's always a reason not to exercise.

But she joined a group that is training together and she is having FUN! And she is succeeding. Her determination now is also paying off, but in a different way. I can hear the excitement and happiness in her voice when she left us the message about finishing the race.

Way to go Carrie!! I love how you stuck with it and had such a great experience. We'll have to go for a run next time I'm up there visiting ... xoxoxoxo

But it is just one vision, and by no means the only possible future for me. So, for now, my plans are on hold. I will see what Doctor O. says on Friday during my appointment and in the meantime, treat my knee gently and with love. I will not demand unrealistic things of my body ... I will listen to it and respect it's wishes. Hhhhmmmm ... well most of the time at least. I am going to try and run tonight (as the swelling and pain have abated since yesterday) but don't worry Juls, I won't push it. Promise. If it hurts I'll stop and switch to weights and core strength building exercises. Lots of options - many possible futures :-)

I will be asking the good ole' doc again this week whether another steroid injection is warranted, or we just go straight to the knife. The ultimate cure is surgery ... but we all know that is not an option to be taken lightly. I have timing to consider as well ... my peak training for my marathon in December is NOW ... so if I can train through it I might just do that and postpone surgery until afterwards.

Unless my doctor thinks the constant inflammation may be making the whole situation worse, by creating scar tissue. In which case, Plan B is to undergo orthoscopic surgery as quickly as possible, recover as quickly as possible, and get back out there. Me, type A? Naw ... well, maybe a little. Okay, a lot.

And, just in case I need it, I have devised a Plan C, which is to do CIM as a training run in December and then sign up for the Napa Valley Marathon in the Spring - another one of my favorite courses. I have to admit it would be nice to run my next (and maybe my last) marathon with less pain. It's funny how we get used to "bad" situations ... and just keep plodding along as though everything were fine, just fine thank you.

As I am writing this, I'm thinking to myself ... Forget about the knee - I should have my head examined. I'm 46. My body is trying to tell me it isn't happy about what I'm doing. Maybe I should listen. In the short term (i.e. tomorrow) I think I will forego my routinely scheduled a.m. run at the park. I'll wait another day to see how the knee responds to my home remedies of ice and ibuprofen, while I try to get in to see the doc.