Am I at the end of the road?

I'm so behind on posting my training, or lack thereof. I have not been very motivated to run much at all. And yesterday (Jan 9) I suffered yet another injury, this time to my left knee. I think it was due to changing back to the Mizuno Nirvanas from the Mizuno Inspires. The Inspires are lighter and less durable, thus less cushioning. I changed back to the Nirvanas since those are the top of the line. They have maximum support and cushioning so they may have misaligned my knee somewhat. After my 10.7 mile run my left knee was aching. It is still aching a day later. I will have to take some time off from running until it feels normal again. This is so frustrating. I feel like my long distance days are over.

Actually my hamstring is feeling a lot better. At least that has healed somewhat. I had PT this past week and the therapist said she felt that the scar tissue area in my left hamstring is a lot smaller and harder to find when working on it. That's a positive at least. Still, I feel discouraged.

There is a part of me that still wants to run one more marathon. I think I may be able to do it at the June Rock and Roll Marathon in San Diego. I can possibly slip a decent marathon in. We'll see. Right now, it doesn't look good. Stranger things have happened though. 

Even though I am embarrassed to even be tracking such low mileage, here is what I did the last 4 weeks, starting with the week ending Dec 20.

Date	Time	Mileage	Min/ Mile	Notes	HR Max	HR Ave
Dec 14, 2009	45:00	6.21	7:14	Tired legs tonight. I was not very motivated.	165 (88%)	145 (78%)
Dec 17, 2009	40:10	5.66	7:05	Another run outside in the dark. I can't wait for daylight savings to end.	165 (88%)	153 (82%)
Dec 19, 2009	55:01	7.73	7:06	I did a longish run on this nice Saturday. It was in the Newport Back Bay. I didn't want to go too long. It  was dry and kind of hot today, temps in the mid-70s. A Santa Ana weather pattern. I do enjoy them but not for running. The humidity was so low. My HR got up there.	177 (95%)	157 (84%)
Dec 20, 2009	30:34	4.79	7:16	Today was my 34th bday! I ate such crap during the day that I felt intense guilt so I headed out at 7:30pm for a short run. Normally on a Sunday evening the last things I want to do is run. I was glad I went out there. It cleared my head.	160 (86%)	142 (76%)
Week ending Dec 20, 2009	---	24.39	---	A so-so week. I wasn't too impressed with myself. The holidays are here. I may not run much over the next few weeks.	166.7 (89%)	149.2 (79%)

Here is what I did week ending Dec 27.

Date	Time	Mileage	Min/ Mile	Notes	HR Max	HR Ave
Dec 22, 2009	31:45	4.55	6:58	This was a treadmill run. I hate the ones at the 24 Hour Fitness. My monitor malfunctioned so I had no reading.	---	---
Dec 24, 2009	45:18	6.32	7:10	I did a nice run in the daytime around Newport and Costa Mesa. I ran down to the Balboa Peninsula.	172 (91%)	151 (81%)
Dec 25, 2009	34:27	4.8	7:10	I had to run today. I have a tradition of running on Christmas Day. I like running in San Diego a lot better than in OC.	161 (87%)	149 (80%)
Dec 27, 2009	39:30	5.5	7:10	I ran to Balboa Park and then around and back to my friend's place in Hillcrest. I didn't feel like doing a long run today. My body needs rest. My knees have been aching.	162 (87%)	150 (81%)
Week ending Dec 27, 2009	---	21.17	---	I just didn't put a lot of effort into my running this week. It was the holidays and I wanted to give my body a break. I still went to the gym and did some weights and used the elliptical.  I will resume in the New Year the longer runs.	165 (88%)	150 (81%)

Here's the week ending Jan 3:

Date	Time	Mileage	Min/ Mile	Notes	HR Max	HR Ave
Dec 28, 2009	32:33	4.47	7:14	Not a very memorable run. I was slow and tired. I ran around Mission Hills neighborhood since I am dog sitting here in San Diego.	159 (85%)	143 (77%)
Dec 29, 2009	23:29	3.21	7:17	A shorter run today. I didn't have much time.	165 (88%)	153 (82%)
Dec 30, 2009	55:01	1.63	7:10	I ran to and from the gym. I did elliptical at gym and weights.	---	---
Jan 1, 2010	40:01	5.62	7:07	A little better. I felt a little out of sorts today. My heart rate got really high probably due to the hill I ran up.	178 (96%)	150 (81%)
Jan 3, 2010	26.28	3.8	6:58	Just a shorter run. Nothing special.	158 (85%)	148 (80%)
Week ending Jan 3, 2009	---	18.73	---	I really cut it back this week. I just needed a rest. No long run = low mileage.	165 (88%)	148.5 (80%)

Here is the week ending Jan 10

Date	Time	Mileage	Min/ Mile	Notes	HR Max	HR Ave
Jan 4, 2010	32:05	4.42	7:15	I had low energy tonight. I really dislike running at night.	159 (85%)	140 (75%)
Jan 5, 2010	35:26	5.00	7:04	I ran faster and longer tonight. I didn't think it was possible. I had an orange 90 min before running. That probably helped. I also ran in my new Mizuno Nirvanas tonight. I had a little extra spring in my step!	178 (92%)	144 (77%)
Jan 7, 2010	32:27	4.63	7:00	I'm getting faster. Not sure what has been going on. I had more energy. Still my knees were hurting a little.	159 (85%)	145 (78%)
Jan 9, 2010	1:17:12	10.7	7:12	Struggle is the only word that comes to mind on this run. I shouldn't have increased my mileage this quickly. I wanted to do 8 miles but decided to run around the entire Back Bay loop. I had zero energy near the end and it was so dry out. I had no water until AFTER the run. Mistake #1. Mistake #2 was I was running in my new Mizuno Nirvanas, which I had only run in twice before. I developed intense knee pain after the run. Not sure what is going on.	174 (94%)	155 (83%)
Week ending Jan 10, 2010	---	24.75	---	Without my long run it would have been another low, low week. Who am I kidding? It was a low week. I'll have to see how my knee heals before I make any other decisions. I may have to go to the gym this week and do elliptical with the "New Years Resolution" crowd. UGHH. Can't they just stay on their couches so I don't have to wait for a machine??	167.5 (90%)	146 (78%)

Am I too old for marathons? Run tally ending Nov 15, 2009

I'm finally posting last week almost a week late. I believe my long distance running days are slowly fading away due to my age (almost 34) and just overall wear and tear on my body over the last 10 years. I started running longer distances in 2000. Nathan, if you are reading this, you were totally right. He said my knees would eventually go out on me. I feel them slipping away slowly, one by one. I have developed pain in my left knee. The same leg as my hamstring issue.

I thought I was supposed get better with age in regard to long distance running. Some of the greatest marathon champions are in their 30s. Even the Women's 2008 Olympic Marathon champion Constantina Dita won her gold medal at age 38! I know many runners in their 30s, 40s and 50s even who thrive and have faster marathon times than me. Ughh. I guess I am not as resilient as I thought I was.

The more and more I fight it, the harder it is to maintain the same level of training. I've been struggling with my hamstring injury since December 2007. Yes, almost 2 years ago. I went back to physical therapy again this week. Basically the injury has healed but left scar tissue deep inside it that needs to be smoothed out. I already knew this. So I was able to get it worked on and it was painful. She dug deep in there and got to the problem area using her elbows and fingers. We also did some other stretching and strengthening exercises.

I feel this PT is so much more effective compared to the PT at Mercy Hospital last year. They never really touched/massaged my injured area. Sports medicine PT is so much better for me. I wish I had realized this in 2008 when I just picked the closest PT place near my home. I should have specified a sports medicine facility. We'll see how it goes. I will go once per week. In the mean time, I have cut down some of my mileage and won't do any long stuff (more than 8 miles in a single run) for at least another few weeks.

Below is what I did before last Sunday, Nov 15.

Date	Time	Mileage	Min/ Mile	Notes	HR Max	HR Ave
Nov 10, 2009	43:24	6.13	7:04	My knees were ok. I didn't run for 2 days so I had more energy on this run.	169 (90%)	150 (80%)
Nov 11, 2009	24:42	3.51	7:03	I ran to the gym, 0.64, then did 2.23 on the treadmill and then 0.64 back. I also did upper body weights. I HATE the treadmills they ys	---	---
Nov 13, 2009	58:58	8.35	7:03	I ran outside around my neighborhood. I should have run more, like 12-13 but my body wasn't feeling it. I just ache too much. I ran mostly on concrete. That's the problem. How am I going to do a marathon that is mostly on concrete? I have to adapt my body.	173 (93%)	155 (83%)
Nov 14, 2009	29:03	4.26	6:48	I ran outside at night around my neighborhood. Sometimes I smell burning rubber and other chemicals in the air. It sucks that there are some industrial factories nearby that emit this pollution! I ran faster than normal since I just wanted it over with.	165 (88%)	153 (82%)
Week ending Nov 15, 2009	---	22.25	---	I had to decrease this week a little. My body wasn't feeling great. I don't know if a marathon is even possible this winter. Next week I'll cut down again then I will decide what I will do in terms of the marathon.	169 (90%)	152.6 (82%)