@*%#@%&#!!!

Well, I did it again. Started out too fast and hurt myself. This time I was feeling it by mile 6. My right knee this time – last time it was my left.

Our route today took us from Municipal Park to Lucky Peak, nine miles out and nine miles back. I was barely moving by the time I reached Lucky Peak. Just walking was excruciating. After about a mile back, I gave up trying to run at all. Coach Mike gave me a knee brace, then I was able to get a decent walking pace going with a stiff as a board right leg. As long as I didn’t even slightly bend my knee, it was manageable. So it was a looooooong remaining 8 miles. I didn’t even bother to think about trying the 19th mile. Today was not the day.

What was so frustrating was that I never got fatigued. With the exception of my knee (and my right hip a little), my body was feeling great and I was anxious to run. But that one thing made running impossible. It was just maddening. I’ve never been so SICK and TIRED of walking!!

But I finished. I was offered a ride back a couple of times, but I couldn’t bear the thought of not completing the course. It was about all I could do to bend and sit down in my car once I got back. I made it home, iced my knee then took a wonderful hot shower to get the chill out of my bones.

So this week I will lay off quite a bit, let my knee heal and hope for a pain free 9 miles next Saturday.