Test Run

   So I have been doing relatively well with my elliptical workouts since I am definitely getting stronger and the intensity of the workouts has no doubt picked up in the last couple of weeks.  Unfortunately, the Boston Marathon isn't run on an elliptical machine because if it was I might be considered one of the elites (actually, I probably still wouldn't be anywhere close to the front of the pack).  Since the big race is only about 6-7 weeks away now, it was time that I got back on the road and tried pounding the pavement again to see how the knee had improved. 
    Since I just wanted to take it in baby steps, I decided to go to the gym and get a good 30 minute cardio workout in on the elliptical so that my days workout didn't consistent of just a 2 mile run.  The elliptical workout, like I said above, was definitely a lot more intense than they were when I first started working out on the machine 4-5 weeks ago.  I was able to rock out 3.4 miles in 30 mins on a course with "hills" at an avg rpm of ~160.   After my elliptical workout, I spent about 20-30 minutes doing my stretches and exercises in the gym.  I have found that using the stretching cage (see picture) has helped me out a lot. 
    With that little piece of training behind me, I got on the bus to head back to South Boston to go for my first run on the road in almost three weeks.  The excitement that I felt towards actually going outside for a run was almost like a kid on Christmas.  I was hopefully that the physical therapy, the stretching and the exercises I had been doing would finally pay off.  Deep down inside, there was a part of me that was hoping for a miracle and was thinking that maybe I would be magically cured and that I would finally be able to run pain free.
    Once I got home, I through on the winter running gear and heading outside.  Armed with the Garmin watch, I had high hopes that this two mile test run was going to be awesome.  Those high hopes, however, quickly faded about 1 min & 30 seconds into my run when I felt that familiar feeling of a burning / sharp sensation on the outside of my left knee.  I thought for a split second that maybe it was something different ... a cramp, an itch, anything ... and that it would go away if I just keep running ... but it didn't.  In total, I ran 1.5 miles in about 13 minutes and returned back to 13 Emmet Street ... down, dejected, frustrated and miserable. 
     It was hard to imagine that after 3 weeks of not running that the knee had appeared to get worse.  Back when this started in mid-late January, the symptoms didn't pick up until at least mile 4 or 5.  Now ... only 0.16 miles into the run ... they were there.  Really, I don't have any words to describe how I felt that afternoon.  When everything else seemed to be going so well ... my elliptical workouts had been getting better / more intense, I was gaining flexibility with all of my stretching, my cardiovascular conditioning is the best its ever been ... Every other part of my body felt good, except a 4 x 4 inch section on the outside of my knee. 
     For the rest of the day, I packed it in and continued to ice the knee.  Thankfully, I really didn't run enough for it to be sore after I had iced it ... really what hurt was just the frustration of dealing with the nagging injury. 

Stretching cage at the YMCA