It's been a while.......

Yeah, it's not as if I've had much to write about over the last few months......

Look, this year has turned disastrous for me.....running-wise, that is.  Professionally, things have never been better.  As bad as last school year was, I'm probably having more fun now teaching than I ever have in my 9 years in the classroom.  Personally, all is well with my family.......

But this is a running blog, and the mere fact that I haven't posted anything since June is telling.  I "ran" today for the first time in LITERALLY a month, and I can honestly say that I have no idea what is going on.  After having a lot of heel pain starting in January and running through the summer, my mileage had been way off, forcing me to cut short my training for my last marathon.....well, the heel pain has gone away, but it was replaced by knee pain in my right knee.  It almost felt as if I'd hyper-extended it, as the pain registered behind the kneecap, as well as just above the kneecap in front.  After my last attempt at a 5K in September, I shut it down, figuring that rest would either help it, or make it go away altogether.

Finally, after not running at all since October 5th, I felt I needed to have an easy test to see how my body would feel.  In spite of trying to do some cardio at the gym (stationary bike, elliptical, etc...), I'm pretty sure we can all agree that the best way to stay in running shape is by running.  I knew my aerobic fitness would be nearly non-existent, and I was right.  I set myself up one of the dreadmills at Planet Fitness, hit 30 minutes on the timer, and set off using a Galloway-esqe 3/1 ratio (run for 90 seconds, walk for 30 seconds).  I felt some discomfort behind my right knee through the first few minutes, but that seemed to subside as I got warmer.  I managed to get through the 30 minutes, vowing to myself that every journey starts with a single step and that if I'm to still be a runner, then I'm going to have to work my way out of this hole......

Now, as I get ready for bed, I'm feeling that familiar discomfort in my right knee.....perhaps I'll wake up in the morning and it'll be fine.......or maybe it won't be.  I'm trying to remain hopeful, but I'm awfully frustrated. 

Anyway, thanks for lending your sympathetic virtual ears.....it helps to vent!

See you all (hopefully) out there on the road!