We don't have to have surgery.

I got the results from my MRI today!! The doctor's first words were, "Well,
we don't have to do surgery!" Thankfully, the MRI didn't show any tears.
He did see a small cyst on the back of my knee, but nothing I needed to worry about.
The final diagnosis was tendonitis brought on by issues with my IT band. [Don't
I sound like a real athlete??]

At any rate, the funny thing. He recommended I get a cortisone injection... he said
with that, we can both say, "we've done all we can do". So, I get
laid up on the table, got my knee ready, he starts pressing around, asks where it
hurts most, then I feel this cold spray, 2 stings and he's done... except...
that was the local anesthesia!!! He's gone about 5 minutes then comes back with
this huge syringe. To myself, I'm like, "Crap, I thought we were done!"
Not long after that, I'm completely passed out... Yeah, I fainted! Will anything
ever change?

Anyway, he said "give it a week and I should be running again." He said
to pay extra close attention to that tendon and give it some TLC and with luck I
won't have the problem again. So, now that I've basically been given the clear.
I plan to do some yoga and walk this week, then try and run next week. Hopefully,
I'll be running a 5K in June and start training for another full marathon in
January. 

It's Over

Well, here goes.

It wasn't a great performance, it wasn't a good performance, it sure as hell wasn't pretty, but I have a medal and I crossed the finish line.

At mile 15, something popped in my knee. At mile 16, I spent 30 minutes at a medical station being iced and getting wrapped up. But, you know me being hard headed... I had worked too hard to not finish, so I took my jacked up knee and we finished the last 10.2 miles. I didn't run a marathon, but I did complete a marathon.

Am I done, no. Will I do it again, yes! I'm in the best shape of my life and I refuse to let this minor set back stop me. I may have to take a few weeks off, but it's probably best. I've really beat myself up over the past 6 months and my poor ole body could use a little R&R.

I'm actually going to San Francisco to run the Nike Women's 1/2 marathon in October. Then I'm contemplating running with LLS again to train for the PF Changs Rock n Roll marathon in Phoenix in January. We'll see.

As for the knee. I went to see a sports med doctor and got some x-rays taken and I have an MRI set up for later this week. They think I may have torn my meniscus, but nothing to major that won't heal on it's on. We all agreed it would be best to find out the root of the problem in order to find ways to prevent it in the future.

Thanks again for everything. Check back every now and again... this blog thing was pretty cool.