Houston Marathon was wet, freezing, 22mph winds, flooded miserable... but I finished strong with 4:25:20. Not what I was aiming for, but I did my damnedest.
That was a month ago today.
I bounce back after races. After Chicago Marathon, the following Saturday (6 days) I was racing in a 10-mile hot and humid Texas race. No complaints. After the 25K came the 30K, throw in a few half marathons in the mix - and I was feeling on top of the WORLD.
The day after the Houston Marathon was like any post-marathon day. Stiff legs, sore quads, 'hot' knees. I waddled around the office, became the typical butt of jokes (since I am the only one who 'torturers myself running')... And I kept feeling this knee pain. I figured it was a typical ache so I rested a few days, then went out to Memorial Park to.. Get.. My... Run... On...
Ya, that didn't happen. I could barely make it 3 miles. Fail.
Two days later, I decided to try-try-again. I drove over to Memorial Park, set out for an easy 8 mile recovery run, go about 3.5 miles into and my leg literally collapsed. I fell to the ground and I must have let out a squeal of some sort because runners came running over to help the wounded. I stood up and my knee was on fire. Someone said, you've dislocated your cap. I looked down and wouldn't you know.... The cap was towards my inner thigh... So I let the pain sink in, and I hobbled back to my car (1 mile walk), taking rest breaks to lean against trees... Got in my car and BURST into tears. My goals, my dreams, my future races, my Oiselle team... All just felt like they had been taken from me. So.... I did what any super emotional woman would do - I called my fiance to cry harder.
Here is our conversation (summarized):
Chris: Hey
Me: I dislocated my knee cap. I'm at Memo.
Chris: (Long sigh) Well... I guess go to the ER. Where are you now?
Me: In my car (sob)
Chris: Do you need me to help you
Me: No I'm going to driv myself. I'm really mad right now.
Chris: Does it hurt?
Me: I don't care - I can't run. This is TERRIBLE.
Chris: Maybe you should have listened to you body a bit..........
Me: Hung Up. Angry.
So I drove myself to the ER. Walked in, refused a wheelchair.. and sat angrily on the bed waiting for some shmo doctor to come tell me what I already knew. I just wanted to know if there was anything torn. I mean, I've watched a lot of Discovery Health in my days - I know you can pop it back into place and wa-la. All better.... The doctor came in and said "its dislocated, but we don't have an MRI machine"... WHAT KIND OF ESTABLISHMENT IS THIS? He then told me that running was bad for my body, knees, ankles, joints, blah blah blah... and that to save myself from deteriorating any further that I should stop running all together.
I kindly paid the $250 to the doctor and I drove home.
That night my knee throbbed uncontrollably. I took some pain meds and tried to sleep.
The next day I called my normal Ortho (Dr. Beaver with IronMan institute) and he squeezed me in to look at me. (He's a former colligate runner for Dartmouth).. He walked in the room, took one look at my knee and said - "Well that's swollen"... I finally laughed out loud, firs time since I fell.
He took the standard X-Rays, and ordered an MRI.. He also gave me this crazy steroid 6-day packet which, as he said, would make me feel like I drank 40 cups of coffee and I could punch a panther in the face.
His nurse came in. Asked me to lie back on the table, held my shoulders down.... and you can imagine the pain after my doctor surprised me by snapping my knee cap back into the socket.
So now its been a month since my last race... I've gained weight, lost stamina, slept in past 6am... Life is good... But I desperately miss running. This weekend is the Austin Half Marathon, I'm on steroids and I'm going to try and run it (NOT RACE IT).... I can't wait to fully recover from this mess.... And I can't wait to start competing again.....
I miss you running.
Love, Kelli
Hi Kelli! Just found your blog via the GGS Team Rad FB page. OUCHHHH my knee now hurts, as I'm having sympathy pains for you reading this post! All I can say is hang in there and try (at least a little!) to take it somewhat easy and let your body rest. I also feel your pain because I've been battling a torn calf injury, so I know how FRUSTRATING an injury can be!
ReplyDeleteGirl, I know how frustrating injuries can be. It's a horrible, defeating feeling and it can make you feel SO alone when you need support the most. Hang in there- it will get better (<-- at least, that's what people keep telling me). We'll hang in there together :)
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