Only a runner would think that pain could feel good...and boy-howdy did it ever.

I had my second physical therapy session yesterday with a different therapist, the one that works with 'athletes' (tee hee, I love saying that). Jon was much more aggressive with the stretching and the massage. He also had me try out the foam roller...and DAAMMMNNNN did that make me wince. Oddly enough, I cannot wait to get my very own play-at-home version next week. I can just tell that the roller is my ticket to freedom.

I think I spent almost 90 minutes at the PT place, between the heat pack, the stretching, the massage and the ice. It was everything I could do to not give Jon a big hug when I left...it finally felt like I was doing some real work towards recovery. Jon mentioned that there might be some bruising from all the work we did but I'm happy to report that there wasn't a single mark. There *are* bruises from where I was attacked by two car doors on Christmas Eve...but that's a story for another day.

Interestingly, Jon wants me to focus solely on stretching first...so no more strengthening exercises with the thera-band for a couple of weeks. And he didn't do the ultrasound treatment...not sure if that was intentional or not. I'll be sure to ask about it next week. I was so smitten with him, I didn't even care about the ultrasound.

Liz asked me about the foam roller...here's the link from Running Times that jeff shared with me a few weeks ago...the foam roller is the second set of images on that page.

She also asked me about the exercise I'm doing with the thera-band...harder to explain...but basically, I put the band around my ankle of my 'good leg' and anchor the band to a table leg. Then I have four exercises to work through: 1) pull leg forward 2) pull leg back 3) pull leg across body (adduction) 4) pull leg away from body (abduction). My 'bad' leg has to work to keep me stabilized while the 'good leg' does all the pulling work with the band.

After my awesome session with Jon, I decided to take the legs out for a short spin today. I spent 10-15 minutes stretching at home before I left for the gym. I warmed up on the stationary bike for about 6 minutes and then, again, chose the treadmill for it's cushy, even surface. I walked for the first quarter mile and then gradually picked up the pace, settling around a 9:05 m/m. There were a few niggles but nothing got tight until just before 3 miles, which is where I planned on stopping anyways. So I did.

Was it perfect? No. But I didn't reach the point of pain, and was able to get in 3 miles. You can bet that there will be more stretching and some ice tonight.

The process continues!

Did you ever feel like the universe was conspiring against you? Like there was some plot to try to break your spirit, beat you down?

I know some of you have. I know you've been there. I know I'm not breaking new ground here.

But dammit.

The trip to the gym on Christmas Eve was one filled with hope. I mean, it was Christmas Eve...I'd asked Santa for a pain-free-long-run...heck, even a pain-free-short-run...and I hoped that I might get my gift a little early.

I spent ten minutes on the elliptical machine to get things warmed up.

I got on the dreadmill...I embraced it...it was OK to be on the gerbil-mill because it was better than not running at all...the surface was cushy, smooth and even, just what I needed.

I stretched. I walked for a quarter mile. I slowly increased the speed. I found a groove, focused on form and cruised along.

And at mile 1.87, the ITB got tight.

I stopped to stretch again...but there was no going back. I had reached the point of pain, and I heard my doctor's voice in my head telling me I could run only if it was pain-free.

So I stopped running.

I tried to ignore the other happy people on the treadmills, stretching out their strides, filling their lungs with oxygen and they pushed the pace and flew along the belt barely touching it with their nimble toes. But all I could think was 'Bah humbug to them, showoffs!'

I haven't run since then.

But I *have* been to my first physical therapy appointment, and the prognosis looks good. The therapist didn't not gasp in horror when she massaged the IT band for me...nor was she appalled at my leg strength. As a matter of fact, she did two things that give me hope: She told me she wanted me to work with a therapist with 'stronger hands' and who also specializes in 'athletes' (wait. does that mean *I'm* one too?)...and she also told me she didn't think I needed to come three times a week, but rather twice a week would be sufficient (as long as I am good with my 'homework').

I have some strengthening exercises to do with one of those big rubber-band things, and she only gave me ONE stretch to do, as all the others I've been doing don't really stretch the ITB. I get my foam roller and instructions at the end of next week...and the therapist said the foam roller will be a good replacement for/enhancement to the stretch. There's also some ultrasound being done on the band to...oh, and LOTS of icing (no, not the kind that comes on cakes, sadly).

So I'm on my way people. And San Diego in June is looking mighty fine...who else is going to be there!?

I know you've all been anxiously waiting, checking bloglines...clicking on my blog...looking for an update regarding my doctor's appointment this morning.

What would happen? What would he say? Am I doomed?

Well.

[Insert sarcasm here]

It was a real shocker.

My knee trouble is definitely Iliotibial Band Syndrome. ITB to some.

No! It can't be! How unexpected!

I know, I know...but it's true. The doctor said so. The x-rays ruled out any other weird problem. And as soon as he showed me which part of my leg was the ITB...I knew he was 100% right. Yup. Right there. That's where it gets all tight. And then hurts.

He didn't use any scary phrases like 'never run again.' He simply gave me a prescription for an anti-inflammatory and some Physical Therapy (PT). Followed by the following conversation:

Him: And you'll want to limit your running.
Me: (to self: *want* to *limit*? - does not compute)
Me: Can you define 'limit' for me? Us runners aren't so clear about what that word might mean.
Him: I want you to run only if it's pain-free.

I think he said something else about keeping the distance to a reasonable level. But it's a moo (moot) point since I can't run very far without the pain showing up.

We talked a bit about my custom orthotics and that I might need to have them replaced. I was told to bring them in when I return for a follow-up visit on Feb 9th.

I start PT next week. My fingers are crossed.

Even though I was 90% sure that it was ITB and I was starting to take some steps in the right direction to treat it myself, I'm finally feeling like I'm on the road to recovery. For me, the biggest thing will be having a physical therapist to guide me, and to help me avoid this from returning. I beat ITB with my other leg, without really trying, so I am confident I can do it again.

Besides, there's this marathon? In San Diego? In June?

And it's just calling my name.

It seems I have been 'tagged' by Jack (and Brit) for two different meme-thingys this week.

I will respond to the '5 Random Facts' one first (this was harder than I thought!)...I need to think on the 'Runners Who Rock' one for a bit.

Five Random Facts about Dianna that May or May Not Enrich Your Life:

1. I have weird food issues. I don't enjoy most dairy products - cream cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, milk, most cheeses -blech...so I avoid foods in white/creamy sauces, including salad dressings. However, I love pizza. I love nachos (with real cheese...no cheese from a jar...and cheese has no business being orange people. Milk=white. Cheese=white.). I don't like seafood, but I will eat clam strips with ketchup about once a year. I could spend an hour giving more examples. In a nutshell, friends call me to discuss the menu before they make me dinner. This is one of my many 'high maintenance' areas.

2. Running is the first thing in my life that I have ever felt like a 'natural' at and the thought of ever having to stop running terrifies me. It's where I belong.

3. When I was little, I planned to attend Yale and become a lawyer. I did neither of those things.

4. I once entered a Seventeen magazine modeling contest, and made it to the quarterfinals.

5. I can tie a cherry stem in knot, with my tongue. No hands.

I would love to end this quick post with a positive ORN (obligatory running note) about how great my 6-mile run was this morning. However, it seems that running on Saturdays is the cause of my knee trouble. During the week, when I run at work, it's fine. But as soon as I run anywhere near my house, the knee tightens up. And this week? By mile THREE it was hurting. And yes, I have been stretching, stick-rolling and hydrating. And no, the roads are not all the different between my house and work.

I cannot wait for my doctor appointment on Tuesday. My patience has grown thin and my spirit is really starting to take a beating. Not sure how much longer I can smile and say 'It will be OK. Just need to rest/stretch/strength train more.' It's not OK. I'm pissed. I want to run. Dammit.

Gotta share the grumpy as well as the good, right?

After a nine day hiatus from running, I got back out on the road yesterday. I felt 'hardcore' running in the 24F (17F with the windchill) although I will admit that I did not warm up as much as I hoped (upper body=warm; lower body=not so much).

While I was running, I thought about the usual things...my running-form, my knee, my life, my blog, your blog...and I also took some time to carefully consider a recent event in the 'Quiet Corner' of Connecticut where I live.

Monday night, a runner went out for her daily run and never returned home. (You can read about it here. ) I spent time thinking about what it means to run in rural Connecticut, alone and female. I tried to imagine what her family must be going through, and how much her community will miss her. I reflected on the fact that she followed the safety protocols: her husband knew when she left for her run, how long she would be gone and which route she took. I wasn't fortunate enough to know this woman, to have my life touched by hers, but I was still saddened by her death.

All I can do is move forward, continue to practice 'safe running' as much as I can and encourage my fellow runners to do the same.

The RBF was full of greatness this past week, including Vegas...please be sure to read about all of it in this week's Rundown, hosted by Danny.

The Vegas Marathon easily qualifies as one of the biggest RBF adventures to date. And not only were there a ton of RBFers out there cheering and running, but three runner friends from Connecticut were there too. And I think I need to give them a little shout-out for just a minute:

So officially....Wooo hoooo!!!

Deb: 4:06:29
Tracy: 4:15:48

Sharon: 3:49:02: 2nd in Division...and near perfect splits: first half: 1:54:30; second half: 1:54:32.

I think it's crystal clear why I use Sharon as my 'race-day rabbit.' I mean...just *look* at the that consistent pacing. I'm in awe. But fear not, I am confident that I will someday be the rabbit. So confident in fact, that I bought a t-shirt from Wil's online store, declaring that very fact...it simply says 'I will be the rabbit.' Love it!

On Saturday, in honor of all our marathoners, I set my sights on a 'long run' which was really more of a 'shorter long' run or a 'longer short' run...but I thought 8 miles seemed like a respectable distance. My ITB survived the 5.66 miles from the previous weekend, so 8 seemed reasonable.

Michelle somehow convinced me that it was a good idea to meet at 7:30 a.m. in the freezing cold and run next to her, in all her mix-matched colors. I must adore her or something. That was love right there, people. The early hour, the frosty air...and the yellow vest, with the bright blue and orange shorts over the black tights? She was a sight to see.

Just past the first mile mark we were treated to another great sight - a whole family of turkeys hanging out in someone's front yard. I guess they figured it was safe now that Thanksgiving was behind them.

We cruised along one of our usual routes, chatting incessantly as we haven't run together in quite some time. We jumped up on to the rail trail for a couple of miles, and were admonished by a hunter in pickup truck who insisted that we should be wearing orange (it's true...I did not have a SPECK of orange on me. Hard to believe, I know.).

While I do agree with his suggestion...it's not like we were dressed in muted colors...especially Michelle. And, I'd like to point out that we were running on a trail that literally runs right behind houses and businesses. If hunters are discharging their weapons in that general direction, I'd have to question their sobriety and their sanity. There are kids and dogs in those yards constantly.

Then, with two miles to go, the twinge started in The Knee. And then the band tightened up. I grit my teeth and slowed for the last mile. And paid for my foolishness the rest of day, as I limped around like the stupid runner that I am. Sigh.

BUT! In the spirit of being a good role model...I have NOT run since then...AND! I made an appointment with a Sports Medicine specialist. Of course, I can't get in to see him for two weeks, but I've known some people who have waited much longer than that to get in to see this guy. I'll take what I can get.

Until then, I'll be spinning and swimming...and keeping my runs at the 5-miles-and-under mark.

First, notes, reminders, etc:

GOOD LUCK to the RBF-West Side (as well as my CT-runner-friends Tracy and Sharon) on their Las Vegas marathon journey. Run strong and smooth...and think of me when you look down at your orange shirts or whenever you see an orange hat! I'm there...cheering for you! Really, really loud!

Did you hear about how Mark and Aaron update the Complete Running web site? Be sure to check it out, bookmark it and visit often!

The Rundown this week is available here.

Now, on to me, me, me:

You may have noticed that my posting has been less frequent as of late...and for that, I apologize.

My first excuse is to blame the rest of you...I'm so busy reading blogs these days that I have little time left over to write anything!

Plus it's *that* time of year. The weather has grown colder, the daylight hours are fewer and the motivation level is wavering. Just getting out the door feels like an accomplishment. Writing about it afterwards? Well, that seems damn near impossible some days.

On top of which...all those 'holiday' demands are pressing down on my schedule. The parties, the decorating, the baking, the shopping, the wrapping, the reconnecting, and so forth and so on. It's fun (mostly) but time consuming.

In an almost catch-22 kind of way...all of those things make getting out the door even more important than usual. Getting out there...away from the crowds, the stress, the small talk and the egg nog. Getting out to feel and breathe the fresh, crisp, invigorating air. Then coming back, feeling recharged, rosy-cheeked and relaxed.

It's a 'must-have' this season. Make sure it stays on your list...and realize that you deserve those moments...regardless of whether or not you've been naughty or nice.