I have a sore knee. #thatisall
I thought about ending this post there, but figured that’d be a bit unfulfilling for my readers given that you are accustomed to, and enamoured of, my witty repartee. Or something.
It’s true though. A few times last week I got a pain on the inside of my left knee. It almost ‘gave way’ a couple of times late in the week and it particularly hurt as I climbed the stairs to exit my train station on Thursday evening. By Friday I complained every time I went up and down the steps in my apartment.
The only thing I can put it down to are the little ‘runs’ I did on the treadmill on Wednesday and Thursday last week. Knee pain is rare for me, but I recall having problems with my hip when I did some running late last year. Of course I had A LOT of hip trouble a few years ago and my more recent hip and knee pain has been on the same side.
I haven’t had knee issues prior to last week’s running and can generally jump about in my dance classes with minimal ache afterwards. And… when I attended circuit classes and had to do some running there, it was often a one-off for a certain distance or interchanged with other cardio work rather than constant/ regular bursts. So, perhaps it’s a sign that I’m really not ready to run yet. (Or more specifically, that my knees aren’t ready for me to run yet!)
I went for a walk on the weekend instead of something higher-impact as planned and it was fine.
My knee issue and recent post about wanting to push myself more cardiovascularly should both serve to remind me that I’m a long way from where I was this time last year. I rarely think about it, but read a post by Marion at Affection for Fitness over the weekend, in which she talked about her own fitness miracle; making me realise that I sometimes don’t give myself enough credit for my achievements over the past year. This time last year I was not yet exercising and fretting at how much I abused and mistreated my body.
I need to remind myself that a year ago I couldn’t walk without getting shin splints. I hired an exercise bike and did pilates to kick off my workout regime in late May 2011. And here I am, a year later and I’m stressing about my fitness not improving as it should be. It’s good to have exacting or high standards… but a good memory and some self-consideration would also be useful!
In other exercise news it’s likely I’m going to have to miss my favourite faux Zumba class AGAIN this week and I’m devastated.
Is there a class / workout you HATE missing?
May 14, 2012
I have had the same things occurring with me…hip and knee pain off and on….knee, at times, “give way”
I have discovered, thanks to my Wii, that I have a tendency to naturally put more weight on one side than the other and yes..it is the same side as the hip and knee pain.
I have stepped back to just doing stretching, posture, and core exercises for now trying to get my body back in alignment…..
As far as a class or workout, I hate missing………..haven’t got there yet…but today..that is okay.
May 14, 2012
I probably need to make sure I do more pilates to focus on my alignment as well. Given that it’s the same side I keep hurting obviously something is out-of-sync on that side, or my hip injury hasn’t ever healed properly (which it hasn’t, but I can usually live with it) – though of course that was probably caused by some lack of alignment as well. I do have different flexibility and strength in my hamstrings, quads, glutes and hipflexors on both sides!
May 14, 2012
I applaud you for recognizing what you’ve accomplished, rather than focusing on what you haven’t or can’t do. I fall into that trap often and it never ends well…And I second what Jules said about stretching and core work…I resisted doing it for so long, but it really does help with so many issues.
May 14, 2012
Yes Karen, you know me… I also tend to jump to the negative rather than the positive, but I liked Marion’s contemplation of her ‘fitness miracle’ and it made me stop and think a bit!
May 14, 2012
Hi Deb! Well, I was going to write you about this. 😀
Regarding my “fitness miracle,” it’s like an “Amazing Grace” (with all the words of that song) kind of thing. I used to be an extremely lonely person who cried on most days. I had very few friends and did not believe in myself.
I went to the gym, knowing that I was a walking train wreck. Being so low, I was very receptive to other people’s advice. I never disregarded anything that gym members said. I listened intently, knowing that I could learn. I made mistakes on every single machine or gym equipment I tried. Then, kind souls helped me. I felt very humiliated at my failures, yet thanked them.
At a certain point, all of this advice paid off. These athletes actually gave me excellent advice, and I had followed it. They also advised me to take a chance on myself–that I might end up good in the gym! Well, I had never considered that at all! I had always thought of myself as a fitness loser, and had been told that many times in my life.
But now people were telling me the opposite. They wanted me to take the necessary time to face my fears about weight lifting and, later, yoga. They told me to “take lots of time” to try things, and that I shouldn’t evaluate my abilities until I had worked on something for *months.*
At a certain point, I was under the bar, bench pressing. I know *exactly* who I am when there’s 150 pounds directly over my forehead! And I loved that person–me! I’m a girl monster!
When I learned how to do head stands, I learned to fall over, over 50 times, in front of snarky mean weightlifting guys who laughed at me. (Those jackasses!) But that struggle taught me about who I am! I love that part about me who can fall over in front of hecklers! Great headstands was a much smaller success than facing the hecklers, knowing that I’m confident enough to make mistakes in front of other to meet my goals.
My fitness miracle is really not about being fit. It was about me discovering me!<<so that I could appreciate and love myself. It was more about the self-exploration through the struggle than the fitness success I achieved. It was more about people supporting me when I failed than about my success. So that's why I relate to Arthur Boorman, and understand his fitness miracle so well.
So, Deb, I'm thinking that *maybe* your fitness miracle, as I describe, is still coming for you! You are definitely seeking, which is the reason that I think it will be coming.
🙂 Marion
May 14, 2012
Hi Marion… how lovely. And I know you are paying it back (forward) as I’ve read your posts about helping others out at the gym!
I’ve always been pretty athletic – and I don’t mean that to sound vain – cos I’m crap at certain sports, but I grew up in an athletic family and playing a lot of sports. My issue (in the last 20 years) is more about my fitness… and the fact I haven’t grown to be passionate about being super-fit when so many others get so much fulfillment out of increased commitment to exercise and fitness (particularly as they lose weight).
May 14, 2012
I get so sad if I miss Group Active or Group Power/Bodypump. Literally. Tears and all. 🙂 CRAZY!!!!
May 14, 2012
Ha ha! I completely understand though! I have discovered that our Zumba teacher is away next week – that will be 4 weeks in a row I’ve missed her class – 5 weeks WITHOUT my favourite class. Devastating!
May 15, 2012
I don’t go to classes so I can’t say what I would miss, but it pisses me I’m so weak (as in not being able to do stuff because I’m not strong enough) AND that I had to give up my push up challenge because of migraines. It’s pretty easy to increase aerobic fitness, but becoming strong is much harder.
The Female Body Breakthrough program I’m doing at the moment feels really good and might actually give me that strong body I dream of.
PS. Be careful with your knees, and don’t abuse them. My knee pain is under control these days, but it effectively prevented me from exercising for over a year (that’s one reason I plumped up). You don’t want that to happen to you.
May 15, 2012
Thanks Satu… I did a circuit class yesterday (some burpees, step ups, short bursts of running and weights etc) and my knee was fine. I suspect it may have been the running – perhaps my movement/alignment etc… or just my weight!
The Female Body Breakthrough program you’re doing sounds great. Keep it up!
Deb
May 15, 2012
Bummer:( I miss cardio. I really miss when I can’t do yoga now.
May 15, 2012
Worse still Karen… I got another work colleague to apologise to the instructor for me and apparently the instructor is away next week so I’ll miss ANOTHER week… (I did go and do a circuit class to make up for it, but still….)
May 15, 2012
I miss Cycle class, but I think you’d guess that one 🙂
May 15, 2012
Indeed!!!!
May 17, 2012
LOL. Wouldn’t be the same without the witty repartee. #thatisall
May 17, 2012
*Shy smile*… I do try!