I’ve taken nearly a week off of running due to what I presume is “runner’s knee.” I say that with a smile because I don’t really run enough to earn a real athlete’s injury. But man-oh-man, it hurts like a real injury.
It hit me during a treadmill run last Thursday. It was a minor ache that I chose to run through. But after the workout ended, I had trouble walking down the stinkin’ stairs. I have enough self-doubt that I fully assumed that it was all in my head and I’d be fine in the morning. However, I still couldn’t walk right on Friday, and stairs were out of the question. By Saturday, I had self-diagnosed runner’s knee (thanks, internet) and splurged on a good pair of running shoes (my old ones were at least a few years old). I didn’t even try to run… till today.
It was great — for the first 20 minutes. Then it went all wrong. A sharp, shooting pain stopped me in my tracks (tough thing on a treadmill), so I walked for a few minutes. No pain. I thought I could run the last six minutes, but just 30 seconds into that bright idea — that same sharp pain came-a-calling. Game over.
I spent the next half hour pouting, just certain that my weight-loss efforts were over. As you know, it is IMPOSSIBLE to lose weight if you can’t run. I’m screwed…. destined to gain a good 20 pounds now. Good thing I saved my big-girl clothes.
Then I got over myself. I’m going to consider it a challenge to keep up my weight-loss momentum without running (for at least the next couple weeks). I may have to walk for longer periods, I may have to try something new, I may have to squeeze in an extra workout each week, I may have to do without that extra piece of chocolate. But I’ll do it.
Stupid knee.