Monday, September 13, 2010

Week 35

Week 1 of Swim with Jill has come to a close, as does week 35 of the year. I'm sure you're chomping at the bit to find out how the swimming went this week.


Ok, here we go.... Here's Tara at our weekly Wednesday swim session. Isn't she just cute as a button? Notice our kickboards? My goggles? My swim cap? And that dumb weight thingie I have been using as a pull bouy because I lost my real pull bouy. Low and behold, after searching the entire house and garage 15 times over in the past two weeks, I found it today in my laundry room in the food pantry. Hey, no comments from the peanut gallery - let's not forget my plentiful A.D.D. moments I used to share....yea, they still occur, I didn't miraculously get a new brain, believe it or not. No Wizard from the land of Oz gave me one from his Little basket. Anyhoo, notice how vacant the pool is? Um, it's NEVER that empty when Tara and I go swim - this Wednesday was a total fluke of emptiness. Usually we're sharing with Snorkel Man, Tattoo Man, Ms Tri Woman, Mr. Olympian, and tons of others less fortunate names which I'd better not mention here with my outside voice. Tara and I just do that - give everyone a name, cuz we're pathetic like that. It didn't take long before the pool filled and Tara and I were sharing a lane again, but for a few brief laps, we were totally ruling that pool!

Usually, Tara and I talk more than we swim. I mean, we have lots of blog catching up to do in the week we were apart. And kids. And husband. And marathons. And current ailments. Oh, plenty of marathon talking!!! But since I'm now Swim With Jill it was time to buckle up and get 'er done - no more lollygagging for an hour at the pool barely swimming! We're going to swim, dammit!! We made the pact to only talk the first few minutes before we get in that frigid water, while we swim kickboard laps, and a few minutes after when we dip in the hot tub to warm up (man that pool is cold!!). I cleverly incorporate some wall pushups after our kickboard laps because we couldn't squeeze in all we had to talk about. Our arms are going to be so dang cut one of these days!!


So all in all, Wednesday was a much better day swimming than my normal Wednesday session. "Better" meaning we swam more than we talked. Go us!! Tara got her foot stuck in the "hole" along the side of the pool (the little hole where the filter is); we both had foot cramps; my goggles fogged up; Tara's goggles leaked (yay, my new blackish ones do NOT leak - major victory...now if I could get them to not fog!!); and my swim suit got a bubble in it and was causing us to laugh hysterically at my size DDs. Other than that, we swam! I vowed I would not leave until I had a mile in the pool. Took awhile with all our little "issues" and many kickboard laps so we could chat, but by golly, I got it done. 1 mile at the pool on Wednesday.

And that's all she wrote for the pool this week. Unless I can count today when I went to the gym, did a boat load of weights then went to change into my swim suit after I realized I forget my swim suit? I dug through my gym bag 3 times and nope, not in the bag. I told you A.D.D was still in full-force.

Ok, so week one of Swim With Jill didn't go so swell. But I have OTHER good news....

Thursday at work, I was sitting there with my knee just irritating the hell out of me. Frustrated. Wondering seriously if knitting was going to be it for the rest of my life and suddenly, I see the Athletic Trainer at our school walk by my office. HOLY CRAP!! Why I didn't think of her earlier is beyond me (Hello A.D.D.) - I mean, she's also a physical therapist and an incredible athlete. I rushed out of my office and asked her if I could pick her brain for a few minutes about my ailments. Here's what her educated guess thought, but mind you, this is just a guess and she stressed that eventually when my insurance worked out (No progress. I'm certain the receptionist at the dr. office dropped the ball. Again. I'm not even going to go there right now) I needed to get an x-ray or MRI but this was her best guess after giving her my total history. Heel: Thinks it is not a fracture but either very bad Plantar Faciitis or a bone spur. She suspects a bone spur and she recommended that if it IS that, to not dink around with it and go get it snipped off or it could come to haunt me for years. If PF then I can do a lot of exercises to help it but that the dr would have more advice on this. Knee: This is a new one for me, but she suspects it's Plica Band Syndrome. WTH is Plica Band, you ask? Um, me too! I've run for the majority of my life and I coach cross country kiddos and I have never heard of Plica Band. Here's a little link for those who have tons of time to waste and want to learn more: http://www.eorthopod.com/content/plica-syndrome. Nevertheless, she was pressing on my knee for like 5 minutes and every time I winched, it was on the very outside midway up of the kneecap. She massaged it awhile and then told me to come to the training room after work and she's deep tissue ultrasound it awhile. So I did. It didn't feel any better but she told me it may just take time and to just keep coming in for some untrasounding. Ok. She also told me that running on it probably wasn't going to exacerbate the thing and to just run when I felt better. It wasn't going to feel better until it was healed but it was just strained and would be until it felt better, no matter what I did.

The Plica Band was, again, just an educated guess by her, but I spent well over 30 minutes researching the dang Plica Band and I'm here for you souls out there if you're ever diagnosed with this - I know all there is to know about it now :). Anyway.... my A.D.D. selective hearing ONLY heard "You can still run and not do any further damage...." and I took that literally and that very day after my wt training class, I popped on my treadmill and ran 3.5 miles. The knee (aka: Plica Band. Aka: PB...not to be confused with peanut butter) hurt and I laid in bed all night worried to death that I did further damage to it.

Argh!!!!

But guess what??!!! I woke up Friday morning and I could walk. Walk PAIN-FREE!!! I weight trained and ran on it the night before and it hurt the entire time and I wake up the next day and I had no piercing pain stabbing me on the side of my knee when I walked!!! Not that I'm complaining...but I was totally baffled. All day at work, I walked cautiously, trying not to turn suddenly or twist it sideways, or bend it unless absolute necessary. I took Friday off from all exercise (I promise I was going to go swimming, but I was so baby-sitting that knee, I didn't want it to start swearing at me if I tweaked it kicking dumb laps in the pool. A very valid excuse if I've ever heard one!). Saturday

Saturday, with temps in the 40's when I took a little knee test run over at the state park near where I live, a place which is a staple in my regular running routine. I kept the pace at an ungodly average of 10:14 (omg!!!) so I'd keep my HR down ... but my HR was still up (158). I'll blame it on the hilly trails I was on. And the wind. And the fact I'm not really in shape. And a slew of other excuses. I cranked out 8.88 miles and stopped only when the knee was starting to feel "weird." Took the ole ice bath when I got home (oh ice bath how I've missed you!) and had no problems with it later.

I'm being cautiously optimistic but so far so good. Keep the fingers crossed. Now, if we could just get this heel to behave...but after 8 months of this mess, it's a constant and I'm just going to have to deal with it. With my whopping 14 miles for the week, it seems to be happy - that always changes with mileage so we'll see.

I'll continue on with my swimming and to see if I can get up to at least 2x/week (how can I pass up Snorkel Man weekly??) and my weight training, which I'm starting to actually love (did I just say that??!!) but I'm also going to try to pick up the running mileage slightly and see what we can see. I feel like it's the right time to make a move. So hang on...who knows where this little ride will land us next week!! Just as long as it's not knitting!

On another note, I used to report weekly along with a 5-things gratitude list but sort of got out of that routine when I was in a total slump. So here we go, let's see how long I can keep it up. If nothing else, at least it takes the weekly guess work out of a blog title.

Week 35:
Running: 14.18 miles
Total 2010 miles: 1196.2
Weekly pounds down: .2 (that's actually good, considering all)
Swim: 1 mile
Wt train: 3 times
HCC: 3

5 Things Gratitude:
- No Knee Pain (I did not just jinx that since I confessed my gratitude for it. That's a written law, you know)
- The weather is cooling down and night time sleeping is heaven!
- Ryan ran a 22:04 in his cross country meet Thursday - a 2 minute PR. Woohooo!
- It's Candy Corn season!! You might not think that's a good thing, but trust me, it is!
- The college daughter starts back to school today - YES! Now she'll be "busy"!!!


46 comments:

Anonymous said...

keep up the swimming! it might not be the same as running (like at all) but you will be a better overall athlete -- and thus runner -- when you are back at it! i hope that progress can get made on the insurance deal-io really soon too.

Generation X (Slomohusky) said...

I have nick names for everyone around me - especilly regular hangout spots. Funny!

Marlene said...

YAY!!!!!!!! WHat a relief to have some... well, RELIEF for that pesky knee!!! Here's hoping for continued good things!

Emz said...

YAY for you Jill!!

Love the photos.

Whitney said...

Tip I have for keeping goggles from fogging. Baby shampoo. Put a little drop in each side, then slide it all around. Rinse it out (just by dunking your goggles a few times in the water... don't rub off the shampoo) and you should HOPEFULLY be good to go. I've been snorkeling since I was 8 and it's what we always use.

KovasP said...

So cool you have an unusual ailment - everyone has PF! The other good thing is that it's easily treatable. I think your swimsuit is in the top left drawer of your office desk. Maybe.

Julie D. said...

wow! no knee pain?! that is fantastic!!

C2Iowa said...

Fingers are crossed. So cool that your school has someone like that for you.

Maybe the swimming thing will catch on again and you'll swim a marathon? Just thinking.

Do I detect a underlying postive vibe starting to resurface? Hope so; for you.

Anonymous said...

Yay. Any miles are good miles and those sounded like GOOD miles.

I just remembered - my fast runner friend here had heel pain for months last year. She got a cortizone shot in it in January and the pain has never returned.
I should have mentioned that before!

Miss you!

Teamarcia said...

Silly me here I was thinking Plica was a game on The Price is Right. Never heard of it either. But how encouraging that it felt BETTER!
If I read Swim With Jill can I use that as the swim portion of a tri?? Come on it counts right?

Shellyrm ~ just a country runner said...

Knitting? LOL

Plica? The things you teach me! But I'd rather not learn them because you are hurting!

So glad to read you were pain free. I'll keep praying you get it all figured out for good!

Did you get your goodies?

Christi said...

Yeah for you and the knee, swimming and weight lifting! Go you!

I love candy corn! I think we are the minority on that one!

Tara said...

Oh, I'm so happy that you were able to get in a good run! You'll have to tell me all about this plica thing on Wednesday (while we are kicking of course).

My butt still hurts. :( I think I made it worse by putting my foot in the hole. JK.

158 is a high HR for you? Wow, 156 or below is considered my "easy" zone. Amazing how everything is so different for everyone.

See ya Wednesday!!!

HappyTrails said...

My choice for "floatation aids" are noodles - I am noticing their absence for your photos???!!! Noodles are the best! :-)
Glad to hear the knee is feeling better!

Anne said...

REally glad to hear that the knee pain has pretty much gone...and I hope you can get that heel looked at soon!

Bethany + Ryan said...

hmm, i learned something new, thanks. hang in there! keep up the good work with the swimming!

Katie A. said...

OMG! You two are so friggin cute! I want to go to swim Wednesdays!!!
Okay, some good advice it sounds like. I'm crossing my fingers she is in the right ball park for you - we have to figure this out! And super excited you were able to get a good 8 miler in - that is progress!
Miss ya! Hugs!
xoxoxo

Jaime said...

Well one step closer to finding out what your medical diagnosis is so that's good and glad to hear that the knee pain is gone (hopefully for good).

I like having a swimming buddy, too and it would be so nice if I had a lovely indoor pool like that but our outdoor apartment pool closed on Labor Day so I'm out of luck when it comes to swimming. I can't wait to move into a house so we can join a proper gym.

p.s. I give nicknames to people too with my inside voice.

elaine said...

Fun stuff. The PT lady is going to get me in the pool, or so she thinks. You motivate me!

Unknown said...

Did you know my favorite candy is CANDY CORN!! Thanks for reminding me that candy corn picking season is upon us, yummmy! Swim with Jill didn't sound as fun as RUN with Jill but your swim cap and goggles were sure cute! Tara's too!
I hope you have some pain free running this week, thanks for the gratitude list, I needed it. HUGS to you...I do have a question for you!! I'll email!

ajh said...

Keep getting better. I wish I had a swim buddy and a place to swim. But I must say candy corn is not a good thing! I LOVE candy corn and pumpkins. I don't like a lot of the holiday candies but these two do it for me and I cannot buy them or I will eat them all.

Tina @GottaRunNow said...

One of my fave combos: candy corn and almonds - it's even kind of healthy! I'm glad you've gotten a break from the knee pain - finally.

How about a late lunch on Monday, 10/18, maybe? We could even go to the pizza spot you mentioned - Wazees, or should we be good and go somewhere healthy? Well, we've got time to think about it!

RobinLK said...

I'm totally loving the whole swim thing... BOO to COLD water. You ARE a brave woman! And YAY to free advice. :) Whew! I'm worn out from reading your post!

*hugs* from Orlando!

DRog said...

Ice bath! Progress and good news on the prognosis! I hope it gets better and better. Nice mile in the pool, good job by you Pool Rulers to GET TO WORK! your HR was up maybe b/c of the running layoff? youll get back....fast. in the meantime keep working!!!
have a great week
-Derek

Heather said...

I love your pool pics, they are so cute! Nice job with the swimming. :)

Anonymous said...

Found the swim suit? Check the refrigerator! Way to go Ryan, 2 minutes, what's the secret? Candy Corn, can I add this to my diet? If I swam at your pool you two would yell, "harpoon that whale", or "there goes whale boy". Glad the knee had an Oral Roberts type healing and now I have something to read about, Plica Band Syndrome, didn't they have a top 5 single? Bubble Boy

Tina @GottaRunNow said...

I'm back! Tuesday - let's try to meet for lunch on Tuesday instead of Monday. I'll be able to walk a little better then!

William Plock said...

I've had plantar, no fun but at least you can bike with it! Love the gratitude thing on your blog!

Lindsay said...

The pantry is a great place for pool equipment! What an idea ;)

Glad you had a good swim workout with some fun, laughs, and girl time all in one. Your arms will be ripped from the laps alone I'm sure!

Hey free PT! I didn't know the chick was a free connection - that's cool. I hope she is right... (ugh on the insurance still). Hooray for a run!! You did not put that in your email missy... Go plica band go!

I'd send you candy corn but seeing as how we are supposedly trying to lose weight... I'm not going to instigate anything. It's the thought that counts right?

Lindsay said...

Man I leave long comments, even when typing on my phone...

Glenn Jones said...

Jill - soooo nice to hear that there is some progresson the injury front! You are much more patient than I could ever be.

Tricia said...

Love the pics,yippeee for pain free!

Mark said...

I wonder what my nickname would be?LOL! I do that, too!! Hope you can begin increasing w/o heel pain.

Irene said...

I wonder if all that pressing helped to alleviate some of that knee pain? Hmmm... Glad the weight training is going well, too. :)

AM! said...

I didn't know you were taking up swimming?? Where have I been? I've been a bit outta the loop for the past ~2 wks...so must have missed it.

COOL that you SwimWithJill!;-) go, go!

The Green Girl said...

Aw, I love this whole 'Swim With Jill' thing. ::hugs:: You are too cute, girl.

I'm sorry you are still battling the evil insurance company but I'm glad you got a second opinion for the time being. Crazy how you don't know a bone/tendon/ligament/muscle/etc. exists and then injure it - or feel pain in that vacinity - and you've suddenly got a doctorate in that body part, huh?

Happy Feet 26.2 said...

Well I think you and the PT have educated just about all of us. Hope the road ahead is pain free.

Black Knight said...

Could "Swim with Jill" be the second step to Tri with Jill? Glad to hear that the knee doesn't hurt. I began to appreciate the pool when I could not walk without the crutches and now swimming is an important part of my training. I like the pictures.

Johann said...

I'm sure with the swimming you'll get very strong soon and the knee will be fine. Well done and enjoy all the training.

Julie said...

Okay, you and Tara in the pool swimming...good Lord:) I want to swim with the both of you and I hate swimming! I love the pictures!I bet the two of you have a total blast and are laughing the entire time! How fun to have someone to do the swim workouts with. The swimming is going to help both of you with your running for sure! Woo hoo, no knee pain:) Congrats to Ryan for his speedy time! Kay took off a minute off her time from last week's meet and was pretty excited. I do think that Ryan could kick her butt:) Do they run a full 5K? So far the girls are running 2 and 2.5 races.

I will have to e-mail you about the latest with college boy!! He drives me crazy and sometimes I just don't get him:) I will e-mail you tomorrow at work if I have a few minutes.

Take care Jill!

AZ said...

Great news for you, Swim and Run with Jill.

Heather said...

I hope this means you are on the mend!!
Good for you.

Jennifer said...

Got in on this one a little late... Good news for the knee! Even better news that you found an in-house solution. And BTW 10:14 is not an ungodly average, I run that all the time!

Unknown said...

HAAAAAAAAAAAA, haaaaa. You know I meant that I wanted to meet HT, right? "Them" meant them! So sorry, should have clarified!! ADD=scrambled brain :) .

Molly said...

okay, now I get the Swim With Jill thing. You two are hilarious, do you have the place to yourself???

I totally zeroed in on the PT saying "you can still run" how cool is it that you can go get help from her now!

high five for no pain!

The Boring Runner said...

That is SO awesome about no pain!!!