Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Update!

"Take calculated risks. That is quite different from being rash."
George S. Patton

As mentioned in my last post, I felt some pain in my right knee after my long run on Saturday. So...I iced a lot and...

Sunday, I had a 35 minute run planned and I decided to do it in the water. So I did some aqua-jogging for about 30-35 minutes. By Sunday evening, my knee was feeling much better. Then Monday was a rest day and my knee felt better and better. Actually, I felt no pain at all by yesterday afternoon.

Today, I had a 60 minute run on the program with two intervals. It started out great, but I still took walk breaks after 10 minutes of running. I did the intervals and on the way back, I felt some "tugging" at the injury site and so I took more walk breaks. This is something that I would not have done last year. I tended to always push through...not anymore. If I feel pain, I take walk breaks and I take it easy. If it actually hurts, I just plain will stop running. However, I made it through my whole run today, at a pretty good pace, considering I kept taking walk breaks (9Km at 6.49min/km) and my knee felt okay when I was done. No pain, just some minor "tugging" (not sure how else to call it) :) ...so I iced and now we'll see how it goes on Thursday!

BTW, today was super humid and I did a trick that I got from a DailyMile friend (Claire - from Montreal)...who read about it in Runner's World. It seems that ultra runners do this. It really works to keep me cool when I am running in the humidity. The trick is to put ice cubes into a scarf that you wrap around your neck. They melt as you run and keep you cool...I love it!

Post-run...I was soaking wet. 
Note the scarf around my neck...it had 6 ice cubes in it, they were pretty much all melted when I got home. But it really helped keep me comfortable.

Happy running everyone!
Cheers!

21 comments:

Gaspegirl said...

what a great sweat you had going on... I love that feeling! Great idea about the scarf!!

Make it a great day

KovasP said...

The scarf is a great idea!

Caroline said...

Les cubes de glace c une bonne idee...pas sure que je serais capable d'avoir le foulard autours du cou....

ajh said...

I'll have to try the ice thing.

You are being a smart runner.

Marlene said...

Ooooh that is a great idea with the scarf!

Glad you are playing it safe with the knee.

Kate Geisen said...

I may try that scarf thing. It's been crazy hot here.

Robin said...

Great idea about the scarf. Good idea on the knee...

RockStarTri said...

I need to try that ice scarf. Great idea.

Unknown said...

Icing the nexk sounds so refreshing, I should have tried it last weekend!
take care of your knee!

RunningFromCancer said...

Love the idea about the ice in the scarf wrapped around your neck! I will be trying that out - great idea.

Glad that your knee continues to feel good.

Jill said...

The scarf is an excellent idea!! It's not very humid in Colorado but the past couple days we've had some rain and today on my run I almost melted - it was 66% humidity. I know you're rolling your eyes right now :), but we usually are in the 15% range.

YAY for pain-free knees!!! :)

Abby @ Have Dental Floss, Will Travel said...

An ice cube scarf? You should market it!

Amy said...

There is a place here in Europe that sells a similar product for women in menoupause to help with hot flashes! But it's not with ice cubes, it's with a small cold pack - so you wouldn't have water dripping down you as it melts.

Anyway - good thinking to use it - from the looks of it, you really needed it!

Teamarcia said...

take care of those knees!
A million years ago there was a product called Mira-cool--it was a scarf with something in it that became ice-like for a looong time when you wet it. HOw I wish I still had one. You're scarf is an awesome idea!

Claire said...

Je suis bien contente que tu aimes le truc de la glace!!! :o)
Moi j'ai décidé de carrément éviter les intervalles et les trop grandes vitesses car je me blesse à tous les coups!!! Je me rendrai lentement au départ du marathon, et je vais donc le courir très lentement aussi... mais je ne peux pas faire autrement!!! J'espère que ton genou va se remettre bien vite et qu'il voudra te suivre partout où tu voudras aller!!!!

Laura said...

Smart, smart runner.
Another good trick is to soak your hat and then freeze it. Brain freeze but chilly pay off.

Paul said...

Bonjour!

Ice is great stuff for so many running purposes! ice-makers are great things 8)

I think you are right on with your methods....running through actual pain a no-no but more subtle 'presences/feelings' is ok.

It's tough when you are trying to reach your limits, to figure how how hard to push, no?

Anyway, good luck with the training!

Seb said...

I can sympathize, my left knee twinges after 10 miles. I am nearly 60 so I hope this isn't a forecast of problems ahead. I always ice my knee down after a run. My neighbour who is a physio. and does a lot of cycling does the same. It works for her and it seems to work for me so far. great blog by the way.

Caroline said...

you have been tagged mon amie!!!

Black Knight said...

The scarf is a very good idea. I use the wet hat when it's too hot.
You are wise and with the experience you have learned many important lessons to prevent injures.
Great pictures with a big smile!
Have a good week end.

Giorgio said...

It really seems a great idea!
Have a nice Sunday!