Background: My baby nephew was born early and passed away at 2 days old, and at that moment, something came over me and I decided that I need to run (particularly, run the March of Dimes 3 mile walk). However, besides feeling like a cow, I had/have a true obstacle to overcome. I had torn my ACL (out of state) the week before he was born (right before Thanksgiving). So, with all the crap that was going on, schedule-wise and emotionally, I didn't even see a doctor here at home until right before Christmas. I'm not a candidate for surgery (and from what I've researched, most people aren't), and I started 7 weeks of physical therapy. Near completion of PT, the therapist told me that I should basically stick to recumbant bike and walking. I was devestated because this is an emotional and personal goal that I feel I need to do. I saw the orthopedic surgeon again for my follow up and he said I can "do what I want" so long as it doesn't aggravate the situation. He advised against "running" as well, but I said to him that I'd pretty much "shuffle" along and he kinda nodded his head like "whatever".
So I decided that yesterday would be the day that I get off my fat butt and try to start this couch to 5k thing. I downloaded the Week 1 podcast from this cool site, wrapped my knee in an ace bandage (cuz I was scared of it giving way) and headed out to the gym at 8:30 last night expecting to do a 5 min warm up on the recumbant bike and then the 30 minute C25K.
I did a little over 5 minutes on the bike. Level 3 resistance. Rode a mile. My knee felt good at that point. (Maybe BRAD the PT was right) Then I went on the treadmill. Now W1D1 is a 5 minute brisk walk for warm up and like 8 intervals of 60 second run and 90 second walking recovery. Honestly... I couldn't walk faster than 2.5 mph on the treadmill. I have a short stride so I'm actually moving a lot faster than someone else would at 2.5. I felt like my body was stiff because I was afraid of losing my footing and twisting my knee. Also, each time stepped with the "bad" leg, I felt it in my knee. I KNOW I can walk faster than this...I do it every day. I'm just going to have to do it outside, where I'm not trying to keep up with the moving belt of death. I DID, however, do the first 60 second run. God, am I out of shape. my HR was like 160. So, aside from eek left, right, eek left, right, eek left, right, I couldn't friggin breathe. Anyway, I decided to push through it all but didn't attempt to run again. I brought my walking speed up for the "running" sections and back down for the recovery.
Maybe I'm expecting too much of myself. I certainly don't want to screw up my knee worse. But I also don't want to use it as an excuse to stay sedentary. I need to feel like I'm moving forward to some extent...so then maybe that will motivate me to drive past the drive thru for breakfast...
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