Who needs knees anyway?!?!

Well, I had a very frustrating week of training last week. I went to do my long swim last Wednesday. Part of the workout consisted of 30 sets of 100 yards. I was on set number 25 when all of a sudden I felt a sharp twinge in my shoulder. I got to the halfway mark, and just sort of shrugged it off (literally) and continued back toward the other side of the pool. It kept happening. Every time I brought my left arm out and plunged it back into the water -- there it was. Sharp, sharp pain. So I used my right arm to finish my length across the pool. I used the kickboard for a while, then did some back stroke, then did a couple more laps of slow freestyle, but had to stop 250 yards short of my 4000 yard swim. Not that bad, but still scary.

Then on Thursday, I went to go do my long run. 2 hours and 15 minutes. I had my path all planned out, and since it was new I was actually looking forward to the run (I never would have thought those words would come out of my mouth). I set off and about 32 minutes later, my right knee said "no way". I tried to stretch it out and go forward, but it was not having any of that. So I reluctantly turned around and walked back to the car. It was pain along the outside of the knee, so I knew it was my IT band. It could be helped with stretching and rolling on the foam roller. Not too big of a deal. Just frustrating.

On Saturday, Kim and I meet up in Malibu to get our last hardcore, long, hilly bike ride in before Wildflower. Mile 11, the top of my left knee starts hurting. It's my patella, and it seems to flare up every time I do a race. I thought it would be better since Lavaman, but apparently I was wrong. I push on up Latigo Canyon, continue along Mullholland, over to Leo Carrillo. It's not getting any better. It's hurting worse. I am determined though. We start up Deckert Canyon. We decided we'd be adventurous and take a route we'd never gone. Holy cow! That first mile is STEEP! I have to stop and walk my bike up part of the way. Humbling. My knee is throbbing, but it's barely been three hours. A little further up, I have to say, "okay, I have to turn around." Also humbling and extraordinarily frustrating. My knee is done. My spirits are low. I only have 9 more weeks. That's NOTHING. I can't afford to miss these days.

Monday and my knee is still hurting from Saturday. I call a doctor who is able to see me that day. Sweet! I go in. Whew! He doesn't think it's my miniscus. He thinks I'll be fine for Wildflower in two weeks! Even better! He knows I'll be fine by Ironman -- GREAT! My patella is tracking wrong (hence the grinding noise) and has formed scar tissue under it. Part of my quad that attaches to the front of the knee is not helping matters by pulling on my patella. He spends about 30 minutes jabbing his fingers painfully into all the tender areas of my knee -- trying to begin to break up the tissue. He does cross-fiber massage -- hitting my IT band and my calf. He puts electrodes on my knee for 20 minutes along with some heat. He cracks my aching back and left shoulder. Tells me to ice it tonight. No biking or running for a couple of days. Come back on Wednesday. I leave feeling more relieved about my knee, but less relieved about the days of training on the bike and run that I desperately need. I am far behind, and it is REALLY soon!

I'll be fine. :)