Happy, happy, happy!

The pain in my right knee was bad, really bad during the last mile on Saturday. I tried everything - stretched/massaged/etc. to make it feel better so I could run (not walk) to the finish. I've ignored a lot of pain in the past 5 years, but this pain was too tough to ignore. After turning the final corner, the support from Jerry, the boys and friends helped me block out the pain and push to the finish.

During all that - I kept telling myself to find that 'line' of how far to push it - the race was important, running to the finish was important - but neither was important enough to cause long-lasting injury to myself.

Since I ran the 2nd leg of the relay I didn't run to the finish at that time, I transferred my ankle bracelet with the timing chip to the next runner and collapsed on the grass in pain.

"I get by with a little help from my friends."

Then later when our team finished, we crossed the finish line together - well, kind of together. My knee was killing me at this time and I slowly ran across the finishing mat. At the time, I was wondering if I'd done something serious to myself.

Went for a massage at a friend that lived near the race on Saturday afternoon and she gently massaged it. It hurt Saturday night, but not bad. By Sunday, I couldn't feel it at all when I walked, and only slightly when going steps. Monday, another massage and she said it is probably a stressed ligament and it needs time to heal. No running for a few days and when I run again - only run to the point of pain.

So the last few days I only walked and today I braved running again after warming up by walking for 3/4 mile. I'm thrilled that I could run 1 3/4 mile before I felt any pain behind my knee - yippee! That was much longer than I thought I would be able to. And since I don't like the treadmill, it was way to long for that :) Hopefully the weather will warm up soon, so I can enjoy some runs outdoors again.