Recovery Running
My recovery runs from Charlottesville have been progressing nicely.
The first 2 weeks were very slow. I used the recovery method recommended by Jeff Galloway in his book, “Marathon.” Run/walk days (distances between 2 and 4 miles) separated by long-walk days (30 to 60 minutes).
I was taking it easy since my knees were killing me. The first Saturday after Charlottesville I ran 8 miles very slowly, taking many walk breaks.
In week two, I was feeling much better, though the pain in my knees returned later in my runs, and lingered afterward. I did two 5 mile mid-week runs and felt great during them (other than my knees).
Saturday it was raining like crazy, so I did my long run on a treadmill at my gym rather than with the club. The first 4 miles I did a hill workout that was rather challenging. My next 3 miles I ran a speed workout with a pace between 8:40 and 7:15, which is very fast for me. My final 3 miles were a slower, consistent 8:40.
My worry is that my left knee still bothers me pretty bad after a run. But I’m a stubborn man, and I don’t want to face the reality that I need to back off and give my knees time to recover. I keep telling myself, “sometimes you have to step back before you can move forward,” in hopes that I’ll start taking it to heart.
I have begun assembling information on good doctors for runners in the DC metro area and would love any feedback. I saw one doctor who viewed several X-rays of my knees and told me that there was nothing mechanically wrong with them. He said I just needed to take it easy. I want a second opinion though, preferably from a doctor with a history of working with distance runners.
I’ll keep you all updated.