One Challenging Recovery Week

Remember when I said that my last week of taper was pretty non-traditional (for me)?

Well, there seems to be a pattern here, because my first week of marathon recovery was pretty non-traditional as well. And not in a good way.




All I can say is "UGH!"

Anyways, here's what went down...

Monday
Overall, I felt good following Grandma's Marathon, which had been run on Saturday (June 17th). We had a 7+(hour) drive back home on Sunday, and took a few rest stops to get out of the car and stretch and walk around. As is typical for me, the DOMS showed up Sunday evening, leaving me feeling like I'd been hit by a bus Monday morning. It's a package deal, and I know the DOMS are part of the routine. I passed on doing my usual #5at5 Monday morning and instead did an easy-paced 1-miler after work. You know, never miss a Monday (even if it's only for one mile)!

a short and easy-paced #nevermissaMonday

Tuesday
After the scare with the sudden knee bursitis flare-up, I was really surprised the marathon had gone so well. Granted, I did not run it as I'd planned, finishing a good 30 minutes slower than I'd wanted, but my knee felt great the entire race and even afterwards. Imagine my surprise when it started swelling on Tuesday. There also was some redness, which felt hot to the touch and hurt if I put any kind of pressure on it (not a great day for the white skinny jeans...#ouch). I was still taking my prescription anti-inflammatory meds (from the week prior), so I put the Ace wrap back on that evening and slid on some compression socks before bed (another typical post-marathon side effect for me is puffy legs and kankles as my body adjusts to the fluid levels...and this usually happens about the time the DOMS are leaving).

This was my blogging reality for most of the week...feet up and leg wrapped

Wednesday
I  was surprised to see the swelling had gotten worse overnight. It still wasn't looking as bad as it had the previous week, so I was optimistic it would leave as quickly as it had returned. I had the afternoon off, so I went for a 2-mile walk, and everything felt fine...actually, the walk made everything feel better because I think it loosened up some of the "tightness" I had been feeling in my knee and surrounding area. Still no sign of the usual water-retention thing with the kankles, so that was a definite win!

post 2-mile walk

I did some arm work in the evening, since I hadn't been doing much else fitness-wise. I also was very mindful of the fact that I had just run a marathon four days prior, and although my body seemed to be feeling recovered, I knew it was not. Respect thy recovery...yadda yadda yadda.

Even if I can't work my legs, there's no reason for my arms to be idle

Thursday
Ugh. I woke up with more swelling, achiness, and redness. Seriously?????

Attractive, NOT!

 I decided to try to get in to see my doctor...and hope for some answers or possible on-the-spot solutions. Well, as luck would have it, my regular doc was out, but I was able to see her partner (who I had seen in the past on occasion). He was reluctant to do much (draining any of the fluid out or injecting steroids in), but reassured me that bursitis usually will correct itself in a few days if it isn't further aggravated. He did write me a prescription for Prednisone (a steroid) that I could try if nothing felt better by Saturday. Really?

ugh...isn't it ugly?

On my way back to work, I stopped and bought a knee compression sleeve to try. Still an ugly fix, but it wasn't quite as obnoxious as the Ace wrap. Let's suffice it to say, my usual Thursday #5at5 didn't happen either.

Friday
After a terrible, sleepless night (from constant throbbing of the fluid-filled knee area), I awoke to the same...redness, swollen skin (still), and increased stiffness in the knee. That was it. As soon as the pharmacy opened, I called to make sure they did receive the call-in for Prednisone and picked it up on my way home for lunch and wasted no time in popping those pills.

I knew it would not be an instant relief kind of thing, so I slid the knee compression sleeve back on and forced myself to continue to keep that #glasshalffull perspective. I had a hair appointment, so that gave my spirits a definite lift. Isn't it amazing what a couple of hours in a stylist's care can do for your mental well being?

A slight variation to the 'do....

I also posted my #FridayFashionFlair pic on Instagram. Getting some nice feedback from my followers also brought me some smiles. By the way, are YOU following me on Instagram (@runningonthefly )? Do you wear clothes on Fridays (I certainly hope so!)? I invite you to play along...post a pic of your outfit and tag me...I'd love to see what everyone else is wearing!

I love the turquoise and brown color combo!

Before I went to bed on Friday, I slid off the compression sleeve...and ugh! There was a reduction in redness, but there still was a lot of fluid retention. 

maybe I should join the circus with my freaky asymmetrical legs....

Saturday

Fortunately, I slept much better and awoke to see a huge reduction in swelling! Finally! The stiffness felt better after I took Max for a short walk. I know it sounds incredibly vain, but it was nice to see BOTH of my legs resemble each other again...having one odd-looking puffy mess of a knee is not too fun.

Sunday

Continued reduction in swelling, but still not where it needs to be. My patience is getting close to being MIA because this is such a frustrating reality. But, alas, maybe it's a good thing...I know I'd be tempted to lace up and head out for a run if things were better. It's only been a week since the marathon, after all. I did go into the race slightly under trained, but with an open mind. And I was incredibly lucky the race went so well considering four days prior I was in a similar situation with the first bout of the bursitis. 

Sunday after church.....

 So, there was not much for fitness happening this week. I ran one, (count 'em, ONE) mile this week. It's crazy how 26+ miles could feel so good, but one easy-paced recovery mile (two days later) could wreak such havoc. Of course, this all may have just been pacified with the cortisone injections four days before the marathon. I'm just surprised I felt nothing during the marathon itself  and it wasn't until four days later this bursitis reappeared....you know, just when I was starting to think I was recovered. SNAP!

Anyways, in other news:

Our race day pics from Grandma's Marathon were posted....what do you think?

to buy or not to buy?

In the midst of NOT running this week, I made a "motivational" meme from a pic of when I DID run a few weeks prior. I know there is a lesson to be learned from my current state of recovery....I still haven't quite figured it out, though.  Suggestions?

June 7th was Global Day of Running. I did a #5at5 that morning, and later saw the promotion that I Love to Run had going (a free medal for running their virtual 5K). I ordered two of the medals (one for me and one for my friend, Barb) on Monday, June 12th, and got notification the next day that they had been shipped. 

I actually did a 5-miler instead of the 5K...back on June 7th, when I could run LOL

I was really hoping for it to arrive by Thursday (June 15th) so I could give Barb her medal before we departed on our journey to Duluth. According to the tracking by the USPS, it went from California, to two places in Maryland, and then to Des Moines before finally making its way back to me (on Friday, 11 days after it left its origin). Can anyone explain the logistics of that?

Why all the excess mileage across the country?

Despite my ornery knee, I am grateful I feel pretty recovered everywhere else. I never had the usual kankles or puffy legs, so that's a definite win!

swollen knee, but no kankles!!!

In case you missed them, here's my posts from last week:

Tapering ...on Steroids (literally)

Grandma's Marathon 2017

The Good and the (not so ) Bad

So, that's my first week of recovery! Let's hope the worst is over...because I have a few races on my summer roster.Tell me...have you ever thought your were recovered, only to have a relapse of a phantom injury? Ever had unexpected knee problems? Has your glass-half-full attitude ever been tested? 

Ain't got time for this

I'm linking up with Zenaida (on behalf of Holly and Tricia) for the Weekly Wrap. Please join us!