It Was Just A Knot

I started out the month on the DL.  Self imposed.  With what I believed to be a pulled left soleus muscle.  8 days into the month I ran.  Then I ran again.  And again.  The running was easy and light and all felt good.  For the most part. 

But before I could push the effort on one of my runs, the family got nailed with some black plague of sickness.  My wife and daughter got hit hard but only for 5 or so days.  I on the other hand was sick for about 7 days then ass out for another 5 days.  Sinus infection, flu like symptoms, respiratory issues and a bit of allergies just for the hell of it.  I tried running a few times during this stretch.  One of the runs I made it 1 mile before almost passing out.  The other one I bagged after only 1/2 mile.   

It sucked not getting the chance to see if I were healed, but I figured the days off would only be beneficial in the healing process. 

I finally got back to running on the 18th and 19th.  By the 20th, I made it 10 steps before stopping.  You have to be f**king kidding me!  This time around the pain felt different.  I could pin point where my pain was. And it wasn't the pain that was getting me but the unresponsiveness of the muscle.  It was here I thought torn muscle.  I've torn a muscle before so I have an idea what it feels like.
On the 21st I was at the CU Sports Medicine facility getting checked out by a doc who's completed Leadville 2 times.  He asked a few questions, pulled my leg this way and that way for like 10 minutes.  Then smiled, patted me on the back and said he'd have me running within a day or two.  How the hell is that possible?  I've been laid out for a month now and you're saying I'll be back in a few days? 

On the 22nd I went into Accelerate Health  (highly recommended!!!) for some Active Release Therapy/ART.  45 minutes of some insane pain I was already feeling better.  That lack of responsiveness that existed in my left leg was gone.  Just like that.  The pin point pain?  Gone as well.  No clue what may have set it off, but some small scare tissue had accumulated and prevented some tiny muscles behind the soleus to act independently.  Once that tissue was broken apart, I was fine.  There was never any muscle damage, just a a knot. 

I ran 6+ on the 24th.  The 25th I ran 7 on trails around Matthew Winters.  The 27th, 8 more pain free miles before another session of ART.  4 easy yesterday and 6 consistent today.  The longest stretch of running since mid Feb. 
Kind of have mixed emotions about all this.  It's great to know there is no damage to my muscles.  It sucks to know it was just a knot.

Now I just gotta be careful with not doing to much to quickly.  Well thankfully that won't be an issue cause that cold that made it's way into my house a few weeks ago is still kicking my rear.  Here's to ending the month strong and hopefully rid myself of this cold. 

February 2012 Summary

# of Runs - 19
# of Running Days - 21
Avg Miles per Running Day - 8.4
Vert - 6,000'
Weight Lifting Sessions- 7
Days Completely Off - 0
Injured - 4
The Bad: 

If You're Injured, Then You're Not Training - One step is all it took.  As I planted my left foot and began the push off/follow thru, I simply lost traction.  Every muscle, tendon, ligament braced itself in a attempt to stabilize the left leg. 

I didn't fall.  Thankfully.  But my left leg was feeling it.  By days end my left leg was feeling fine.  Except for the Soleus muscle.  No doubt in my mind I strained it.  So instead of resting it I tried running thru it.  Till it got worse forcing me to take a few days off.  Then tried running on it again.  Running to much to quickly.

I'm fine with being injured.  It happens.  However I'm pissed that I didn't take immediate time off.  I've strained/pulled enough muscles over my years of baseball and running to know that a week off at the first signs of muscle strains is the best thing to do. 

Since I didn't do that, I enter March gimpy.
The Good:

Running - The first 12 days of the month were productive even though limited due to the huge snow storm at the start of the month.  Had it not been for the slip, I could tell the body was ready to step up the level of training. 

Sticking with the positive theme, I'm glad my injury had nothing to do with over-training or not training smart.  I'm also glad it's a muscle that's hurt.  Not something stubborn like a tendon or ligament. 

Weight Lifting - The goal for the month was 6 trips to the gym.  Number 7 came on one of my injured days.  I couldn't be more happier with the progress I've made since I refocused my attention and energy to weight lifting shortly after Steamboat 50 last year.  I've pushed much more weight in the past but never have I worked this hard while running this much at the same time.  It's always been either or but never both.

Not sure how this will benefit me going forward but it can't hurt.  I'm going to miss the weight lifting as I focus my energy more to running as spring approaches.    

Focusing on other items while injured - Injured at home over the weekend allowed me to watch the little one while the wife escaped.  Escape to hang out with friends.  Escape to knock out that month long project which completes her last class allowing her to earn a Masters in Education. 

Getting my taxes (on my own) done in a timely manner even though they seem to get more complicated every year.

Looking at getting inked.
Celebrating the wife's birthday and one week later celebrating the little ones birthday.

Looking Forward:

Getting back to 100% health.

Starting the month by hanging it up for a week or so.  Something I should have 2 weeks ago. This also means I'll be a DNS at Salida in a few days.  Tough pill to swallow but I don't see the benefit of taking a week off and then running 26 to start my recovery.  My wife is more bummed out about this as she was looking forward to the weekend in Salida.

Early March has been slated as the start of my Leadville training.  The fitness I may have lost has been minimal so I still have huge expectations of myself once I get back into the swing of things.