Apr 10 2011

Small Update & Aaron’s 15K Results

Aaron

First of all, we’re all still alive and doing well. The lack of updates lately has been nothing more than this blog taking nearly last place on our ever expanding list of “things to get done.” About the biggest news that hasn’t yet been posted is that little Abel “Taters” started crawling in the middle of March. He is so excited to be mobile!

Yesterday (or today as I still haven’t gone to bed yet?) was the final training race for the upcoming Indianapolis 500 Festival Mini Marathon on May 7th, it was 15K (9.32 miles) in length. Despite taking 10 days off and still having two pretty sore knees before this race, I turned in an 8:18/mi pace, which I am super happy with that, all things considered. More on the “2 sore knees” below. Barring worsened injury, I will be pushing for a 1:48:00 next month in the Mini, which is 8:14/mi. If the knees don’t get any worse, I know I can shave 4 seconds off per mile.

Here’s the start line photo (my hand is the only one waving in the background, click to zoom) that Anna snapped right before the race began this morning. Amazing considering that she was maneuvering our very full and heavy double stroller through a crowd!

Start line!

It was fun in that the entire family was able to go this time since it wasn’t so cold as the previous two races. My goal was to practice my intended race pace for the Mini, which is an eight minute mile pace and I was easily on track to do that until a small disaster (to me anyway) struck…

The Injury…

My knees have been bothering me since early February, but nothing too bad. The curve ball however, is that after a long run on March 11th, my body decided that it was through with training for awhile. Ever since that fateful day, I’ve been taking it easy and doing a maximum of 6mi runs. No long runs at all, which is a drag because I REALLY look forward to my Friday long runs. It is hopefully just an overuse injury.

My knees are perfectly healthy as far as cartilage and the bones go, I have great knees. I went to a hip and knee ortho Doc (a marathon runner thank God) and after basic X-rays the diagnosis was Patellar Tendonitis. The tendon that connects my shin to my quadriceps is inflamed and quite tender below and around my kneecap right at the surface.  Stair climbing, going from sitting to standing, driving a car, and other basic activities agitate it. It would seem that ice and rest will be the only cure, but that means losing my “edge.” I guess a little break is better than permanent damage. I would massively appreciate all prayers for swift and full recovery. Running is the one way I stay in shape and that is important in my role as a husband and father. More importantly, our earthly bodies are the temple of God and not to be defiled (1 Cor 3:16-17). That said I do believe that this injury is a lesson from the Lord and I am still trying to figure out exactly what the lesson is. Humility? Dependence on the Lord for all things?

If anyone reading this has overcome running with patellar tendonitis please share the knowledge! Thank you for any and all prayers!