First Four Miler After Four Years

"Gregg Fowler" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Well, just ran my first four miler after four years yesterday. I had knee
surgery four years ago,

I've had my right knee scoped 3 times (1990, 2001 and 2002) for similar
things to yours, meniscus, bone spurs, fragments. Between the 1990 and 2002
surgeries I did OK with the running but my knee was never quite the "same".
Between the 2o01 and 2002 surgeries is was really tough. But after the 2002,
before running at all, I hit the weightroom and worked diligently to built
up the muscle all around the knee as well as the connecting tissues and
muscles in the rest of my legs. What a difference that made. These days my
knees are well protected by the muscle mass I maintain around them and as of
my last MRI I have no additional fraying or tearing of the cartilage.

The weights made all the difference in the world. Yeah, it added more mass,
but provided so much more in terms of running ability and recovery. I am 50
in a few days and never quite realized the amount of muscle loss that comes
with age. The weightroom has given that back to me and by extension the
ability to run consistently without injury (or at least helped in that
sense). I'm at about 30 miles per week and I never have discomfort in my
knees except for the first 2 or 3 days back after a week or two recovery
break.

It's only an option and only the suggestion of one guy, but at your age with
your surgery history I would stop running, hit the weight room, build
supporting muscle in the legs, and then start running again in a few months.

That's awesome Gregg. Thanks for sharing and I wish you good progress
on reaching your goals.

Clear skies,
Roger
http://astronomylinks.com/

<< It's only an option and only the suggestion of one guy, but at your age with
your surgery history I would stop running, hit the weight room, build
supporting muscle in the legs, and then start running again in a few months. >>

I disagree.
I would maintain a light running schedule,
and do very light weight work.
Also, I think cycling is a good X-training compliment to running.

Yoga, too, will build strength and flexibilty. But too much weight work will
make you less agile, building muscle with less adaption to the needs of
running.

Dot has some good exercises, floor-based, using one's own body weight rather
than weights. Yyou might google for her posts.

Nevertheless, light leg ext. and curls are excellent for strengthening the
muscles around th knees.

_______
Blog, or dog? Who knows. But if you see my lost pup, please ping me!
<A
HREF="http://journals.aol.com/virginiaz/DreamingofLeonardo">http://journal
s.aol.com/virginiaz/DreamingofLeonardo</A>

Thanks for the replies. I have hit the weight room though not as much
lately. I think this is the thing that did help finally make a bigger
difference. I also bike. My wife and I ride a tandem pulling our three year
old in a trailer. I appreciate the comments about multiple surgeries and
return to running especially. After the infection I would be very hesitant
to have my knee scoped again unless there was no other alternative. I know
they are rare, the second case in my surgeons long history. Just discussing
this is part of building my commitment in the coming year.

Gregg

"Twittering One" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

<< It's only an option and only the suggestion of one guy, but at your age

with

Quoted message said:

your surgery history I would stop running, hit the weight room, build
supporting muscle in the legs, and then start running again in a few

months. >>

Quoted message said:

I disagree.
I would maintain a light running schedule,
and do very light weight work.
Also, I think cycling is a good X-training compliment to running.

Yoga, too, will build strength and flexibilty. But too much weight work

will

Quoted message said:

make you less agile, building muscle with less adaption to the needs of
running.

Dot has some good exercises, floor-based, using one's own body weight

rather

Quoted message said:

than weights. Yyou might google for her posts.

Nevertheless, light leg ext. and curls are excellent for strengthening the
muscles around th knees.

_______
Blog, or dog? Who knows. But if you see my lost pup, please ping me!
<A
HREF="http://journals.aol.com/virginiaz/DreamingofLeonardo">http://journal
s.aol.com/virginiaz/DreamingofLeonardo</A>

Gregg Fowler said:

Well, just ran my first four miler after four years yesterday. I had knee
surgery four years ago, which got infected and had a subsequent surgery to
"clean it up". It has been a long road to getting back. At 45 it takes a
little longer anyway and I haven't fully applied myself at times, mainly
because it has been frustrating. Currently, I am just running three days a
week. I am running 3 miles two days and 4 miles the third. Don't think my
"surgery knee" will ever be the same, but after about half a mile to a mile
it is ok. I am looking at adding a 2 mile day in a week or so, then one
other 2 mile day and increasing both of those to three miles mid-January. Is
this too fast a build-up. I am running a 10:00 min pace on a treadmill and
around 9:40 when I run on the road. I would like to by spring be running
four three mile days and a long day of 5-6 miles. I think this is realistic.
My "races" would be primarily 5K's, though in a year or so if all goes well,
I might like to look into a half-marathon or possibly even a marathon. I
love to run and a finally fairly comfortable once again. Would like to next
year have at least six hundred miles in minimum and this year only have
currently around 150. The surgery was to repair a torn meniscus and my knees
aren't young, but the surgeon said running would not cause further damage. I
have my fingers crossed, just don't want to overdo it. Would rather build
slowly and last. Would appreciate any comments at all especially any from
folks that have come back from surgery and had difficulty doing so.

Gregg

I July of 1997, my right knee was broken in an auto accident by an
uninsured, unlicenced, history-of-seizures SOB who thought that his
desire to drive outweighed the consequences it might have on anyone
else. Bones pinned and wired back together (bankrupted me, as
well...almost had resign my slot in graduate school, insurance company
had the audacity to call it an "act of GOD!"😉. Doc said I may have to
have joint replacement. No, thanks...

7 years later and I am 7 days away from my first marathon. Docs tend to
be cautious. I tend to be cautiously optimistic. Cautiously optimistic,
for me, meant first walking, then biking, then running. At 45, (I'm
36)I'm sure you understand the virtues of patience and long-term
planning. This is one of those times that calls for both. Worried that
at 45 there ain't all that much time? Sure, better to be 35 than 45.
Better to be 25. 15? It's all better than being 65 and having to rehab
that thing, right?

I wish you the best,

Jeff

Leafing through rec.running, I read Jeff's message of 11 Dec 2004:

Quoted message said:

I July of 1997, my right knee was broken in an auto accident by an
uninsured, unlicenced, history-of-seizures SOB who thought that his
desire to drive outweighed the consequences it might have on anyone
else.

Was this someone with epilepsy?

<snip>

Quoted message said:

7 years later and I am 7 days away from my first marathon.

Incredible! Which one? Jacksonville?

Phil M.

--
"What counts in battle is what you do once the pain sets in." -John Short,
South African coach.

Wow, good luck on your marathon. Well, I have been fairly patient over the
past four years sometimes just taking a break for a long while. While you
have me by almost 10 years in age, it sounds as if your injury was hell to
overcome. I'll be rooting for you in your marathon. Just 3 miles for me
tomorrow.

Gregg

"Jeff" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Gregg Fowler said:

Well, just ran my first four miler after four years yesterday. I had

knee

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

surgery four years ago, which got infected and had a subsequent surgery

to

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

"clean it up". It has been a long road to getting back. At 45 it takes a
little longer anyway and I haven't fully applied myself at times, mainly
because it has been frustrating. Currently, I am just running three days

a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

week. I am running 3 miles two days and 4 miles the third. Don't think

my

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

"surgery knee" will ever be the same, but after about half a mile to a

mile

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

it is ok. I am looking at adding a 2 mile day in a week or so, then one
other 2 mile day and increasing both of those to three miles

mid-January. Is

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

this too fast a build-up. I am running a 10:00 min pace on a treadmill

and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

around 9:40 when I run on the road. I would like to by spring be running
four three mile days and a long day of 5-6 miles. I think this is

realistic.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

My "races" would be primarily 5K's, though in a year or so if all goes

well,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I might like to look into a half-marathon or possibly even a marathon. I
love to run and a finally fairly comfortable once again. Would like to

next

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

year have at least six hundred miles in minimum and this year only have
currently around 150. The surgery was to repair a torn meniscus and my

knees

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

aren't young, but the surgeon said running would not cause further

damage. I

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

have my fingers crossed, just don't want to overdo it. Would rather

build

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

slowly and last. Would appreciate any comments at all especially any

from

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

folks that have come back from surgery and had difficulty doing so.

Gregg

I July of 1997, my right knee was broken in an auto accident by an
uninsured, unlicenced, history-of-seizures SOB who thought that his
desire to drive outweighed the consequences it might have on anyone
else. Bones pinned and wired back together (bankrupted me, as
well...almost had resign my slot in graduate school, insurance company
had the audacity to call it an "act of GOD!"😉. Doc said I may have to
have joint replacement. No, thanks...

7 years later and I am 7 days away from my first marathon. Docs tend to
be cautious. I tend to be cautiously optimistic. Cautiously optimistic,
for me, meant first walking, then biking, then running. At 45, (I'm
36)I'm sure you understand the virtues of patience and long-term
planning. This is one of those times that calls for both. Worried that
at 45 there ain't all that much time? Sure, better to be 35 than 45.
Better to be 25. 15? It's all better than being 65 and having to rehab
that thing, right?

I wish you the best,

Jeff

Phil M. said:

Leafing through rec.running, I read Jeff's message of 11 Dec 2004:

Quoted message said:

I July of 1997, my right knee was broken in an auto accident by an
uninsured, unlicenced, history-of-seizures SOB who thought that his
desire to drive outweighed the consequences it might have on anyone
else.

Was this someone with epilepsy?

And lupus.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

7 years later and I am 7 days away from my first marathon.

Incredible! Which one? Jacksonville?

I live overseas. The ING Taipei International Marathon.

I only have very occasional pain "under load," as in going up stairs
carrying something heavy. Never have any soreness. Because one of the
bone fragments was smaller than the rest, it kinda healed slightly out
of place, worrying the docs that I'd wear out my cartlidge prematurely.
Been taking the glucosamine and chondoitin and have been OK. Ask me
again when I'm 80!

Jeff

Gregg Fowler said:

Wow, good luck on your marathon. Well, I have been fairly patient over the
past four years sometimes just taking a break for a long while. While you
have me by almost 10 years in age, it sounds as if your injury was hell to
overcome.

Actually, yours is probably worse than mine. Though I walked with a limp
for nearly half a year, and was nearly a year before getting on a
bike, I didn't go through multiple medical procedures and setbacks as
you have. My return has been slow, but steady...easier to handle mentally.

My right quad muscle is still smaller than my left, due to, I assume,
overcompensation issues. That probably could have been avoided if I had
undergone proper physical therapy, which I really couldn't afford. But
the knee is pain free when I run (though I'm extra careful on hills),
and at this point, it is not the limiting factor in my performance.

I'll be rooting for you in your marathon. Just 3 miles for me

Quoted message said:

tomorrow.

And I for you on your 3 mile run. Just different stages of the same race
against our circustances.

Jeff

Leafing through rec.running, I read a message from
[email hidden] of 18 Dec 2004:

Quoted message said:

Twittering One wrote, in reply to Ramone Cila's advice to a
4-minute miler (an awesome feat, especially 4 years after knee
surgery):

I think that was a distance of 4 miles, not a 4 minute mile, more like 10
minute miles. Greg's quote:

Quoted message said:

Well, just ran my first four miler after four years yesterday.

Just wanted to clarify. ;-)

Phil M.

Phil M. said:

Leafing through rec.running, I read a message from
[email hidden] of 18 Dec 2004:

Quoted message said:

Twittering One wrote, in reply to Ramone Cila's advice to a
4-minute miler (an awesome feat, especially 4 years after knee
surgery):

I think that was a distance of 4 miles, not a 4 minute mile, more

like 10

Quoted message said:

minute miles. Greg's quote:

Quoted message said:

Well, just ran my first four miler after four years yesterday.

Just wanted to clarify. ;-)

Phil M.

Phil, thanks for the correction! I stand corrected.

I read through the posts after Ramoan's before commenting, and
my mistaken remark was undoubted influenced by one poster who said,

*> That's awesome Gregg. Thanks for sharing and I wish you
*> good progress on reaching your goals.

The "awesome" part triggered the image of a four-minute mile
as opposed to a 4-mile with unspecified minutes. :-)

In any event, the awesomeness of either is secondary to the
point that the guy has made terrific progress in his recovery
and only an insensitive FW like Ramone Cila would tell the
guy to QUIT ruuning, instead of giving him due praise and
encouragement as the poster cited above did.

JMHO.

-- Bob.

Leafing through rec.running, I read a message from
[email hidden] of 18 Dec 2004:

Quoted message said:

In any event, the awesomeness of either is secondary to the
point that the guy has made terrific progress in his recovery

That is true.

Phil M.

--
"What counts in battle is what you do once the pain sets in." -John Short,
South African coach.