Friday, December 15, 2006

Following My Own Advice

Ever since finishing the Seattle Marathon I have been hindered by a sore right knee. This of course is my good knee that has been spared the three surgeries that Mr. Left Knee has endured. With the excitement of getting into WS100 I'm having a hard time holding back and giving the knee a rest. Tomorrow Rob and Steve are planning a long run of about 20 miles. These guys have volunteered to be my pacers at WS. I hope they have a good run tomorrow and get into great shape so I don't hurt them too much when my knee stops hurting.

I have experienced this soreness on the medial side of my kneecap before. I attribute it to tendinitis. Only occurs on long road races and if rested goes away fairly quickly. I'll be the guy on the Precor elliptical trainer tomorrow. I'll follow up with some marathon candy (Advil) and ice my knee. I didn't run at all this week spending my training time in the gym on the elliptical and doing crunches. I still have some minor "twinges" but it's feeling much better.

Certainly staying healthy will be a prime concern as I train for WS100. Hopefully my propensity to trip, fall, and crash on trails won't keep me from participating. I typically look like Pigpen from the Peanuts comic strip when I finish a trail run. Fortunately Rob and Steve are both familiar with my dirt diving antics and will warn me of upcoming trail hazards. They keep telling me to pick my feet up. I'm sure that the many trails I will be running in the next 6 months will help me lose my efficient road running stride and strengthen my hip flexors enough to keep the stumbles and falls down to a minimum.

Thank you to all that welcomed me to blog land! I look forward to your advice as I work toward this new goal. With your help I plan to enjoy every step before, during, and after this event.

Cheers!
Obligatory toe picture by request. Injury received by ramming toe into a root.

13 comments:

Backofpack said...

Hi Honeybunchkins! (See, I promised I'd call you sweet names). Maybe you should post that cool picture of your black and blue toe from last summer's tumble. You know how I like toe pictures.

Unknown said...

Dude, can you tell your wife that this is a tough trail runners blog and we don't need the precious name calling around here?

Dori said...

Ouch! Congratulations on qualifying for your race. 100 miles in 24 hours--you crazy man. :-)

Darrell said...

I look forward to reading all about the training for WS, I can't even imagine.

I look forward to meeting all of you in Eugene.

Sarah said...

Your toes just look dirty to me. So you'll have to do better than that. ; ) : )

Knock wood, my falls have been few and far between since I've been doing most of my long runs on the trails. Working the legs (lunges, squats, etc.) has helped too.

Olga said...

Not impressed. Besides, do you know Rob and Steve will only warn you about upcoming trail hazard in the last 38 miles, the easy ones, and for 62 you'll have to kiss the dirt many many times? Not to mention I am not very keen of Rob's ability to keep his own feet far up off the ground:) Oh, looking forward to a description!!!

Good deal on healing the knee though!

Olga said...

BTW, I would run CP 50 instead of Mt. Si for a prep, and would include Watershed 12 hr as longest run. My 2 cents:)

Anonymous said...

Hey Eric! Congrats on your entry to WS100! Wish I could give you my personal congrats in person, but since you're now telecommuting and not taking the train - this medium will have to do. :-)

See ya at the Western WA Fat Ass on the 6th!

Wes said...

Yes, I can see how picking your feet up would be good advice on the trails! Definitive proof is in the picture :-) Have fun! and heal up soon!!

Unknown said...

I can't believe Olga is degrading me on your blog. I once was a good runner, but now I am not. I will have to live with the ridicule until I have proven myself to my running ultra master(Olga) once again.

And yeah, Watershed is a good idea, but I know why you are not running CP50.

Olga said...

I am not degrading, rather making (friendly) fun:) Not of your running abilities, BTW, but of your "go above roots and rocks", but then again, most people have this problem. I just pictured you at the CCC tired and Eric at going down to No Hands Bridge (rockiest part at WS) - damn technical! Stubbing toes is not optional, it's obligatory!

Journey to a Centum said...

Olga,

I've never seen Rob actually do a dirt dive. I saw him levitate above a deep puddle when we were running Lord Hill. His nose was about an inch off the water as he stumbled forward. He made a miracle save by grabbing some bushes next to the trail and gaining his footing again. He claimed mad skills in a former life as a football player gave him the abilty to recover. He spent the next three hours pulling blackberry thorns out of his hand. He should have taken a swim. In fact Olga this Lord Hill run was the first time that you and I met. Thanks for your advice, I promise to listen, unlike my foolishness at Autumn Leaves this year with my drop bag.

Thomas said...

That Michelle of yours is a bad influence. She always tells me to post those kind of pictures as well.