SOULFISHING: a blogette

I just helped a man that is on 8L of O2 go from having an O2 level of 67% to 96%.  that is pretty remarkable.  I basically just saved his life. 

I’m not sure I mentioned it here, but about three weeks ago I was running my 11 miles with Glenn for our 1/2 marathon, and I started having the worst knee pain.  Other times when parts of my body would start to hurt, they would kind of work themselves out as I ran.  This was not the case with my knee.  The more I ran and tried “working it out”, the worse it felt.  To the point where I would go to move my leg and my leg wouldn’t bend!  It was awful.  Needless to say, I haven’t run much since that happened.  I read blogs and web MD (i know, that is ridiculous!) and all of them talked about stretches and icing down your knee and how this happens to a lot of new runners, blah blah blah!  I was miserable!  I was actually getting to a place where I enjoyed running.  I know!  I need to say that again, I enjoy running.  I do.  and not being able to do it was really annoying, but worst off, every time I would try and my knee would hurt, I just felt defeated.  I really want to run the 1/2 marathon.  I want to accomplish this goal.

I had been needing new shoes… so that was a must.  I talked to several marathon runners about how changing their shoes changed how they ran and they would run pain free.  I am all about that!  After talking with running trainer, he pointed me in the direction of two shoes that would work for me.  Apparently my foot doesn’t rotate enough to get special shoes. So he suggested ones with more cushion.  I decided on a pair of saucony.  they have so much cushion (so much more than my old pair), it was actually weird having them on at first because of the lift from the cushion.  but they are comfortable. 

I also broke down and bought a knee brace.  I don’t know why I was so uncomfortable about this, maybe because it’s a sign that my body isn’t perfect or last forever…  I don’t know.  But I bought one.  I must say, they are a lot of different types of braces out there and it was very intimidating picking out one.  I tried on like seven different types.  I know, right, seven?! yes, seven.  I settled on one that had an opening around my knee cap (supposed to be better for circulation?! uh!), and attached below my knee, around my knee and over my knee (on my thigh).  There were also ones that just attach under your knee, but I didn’t feel like that really was doing anything for me.  I mean, I can definitely tell a difference!  First of all, it puts pressure on different parts of your leg, your calf and thigh, so I’m not sure that’s good.  But my knee didn’t hurt.  Anyway, moral of the story, knee brace- good (hard to find a good one), new shoes- nice, but i liked my old ones too.