Comments on Running Down: The New Cure is...

Hey AC, I'm glad you are making progress. Bu...

2011-09-06T08:35:51.048-04:00

Hey AC,

I'm glad you are making progress. But I also wanted to sound a small note of caution. I spent twenty something years cycling before I started running, and I had knee pain for most of those years. Cyclists are definitely not immune to knee problems (though different), and the formula you described (seat forward, cleats forward on the foot, and grinding a tall gear) sounds like a recipe for knee pain. Maybe there's nothing to worry about if you are not going to be doing this 200 miles a week, but just a small caution.

Also, while I completely understand what you said previously about going to PT, how do you feel about doing strength training with a competent trainer? I just wonder if you could get the same benefits as the cycling (improved strength, stability and tracking) in a more direct and controlled way? Plus I'm not sure the cycling will do anything at all for lateral strength of the knee or all the proprioceptive pathways that would be important for trail running.

I mention this because I never did any kind of strength training in my life until recently when I started going to the same trainer my kids use (soccer players), and I have seen some real differences in strength, balance, and stability of the knees. As always, it's not magic and I still have my own chronic issues I have to live with, but I think we probably live close by and if you want to check it out sometime I'd be more than happy to have you join me.

Alison, thanks for the advice. Actually, icing did...

2011-09-02T23:04:50.780-04:00

Alison, thanks for the advice. Actually, icing did seem to work in past for me, I should start it again. The bike seems to be really helping right now, so I'll give that a chance before try PT.

Also, I plan on avoiding those knee crushing hard trail races for a while :)

Anthony, Sorry I did not know about your knee prob...

2011-09-02T20:11:52.603-04:00

Anthony,
Sorry I did not know about your knee problems before the race. I would have been happy to look at you. I too have had problems with "runner's knee" since high school really. The best things that I have done are biking along with my running and icing CONSISTENTLY. That means icing even if my knees don't really hurt. Icing can actually slow the progression of arthritis. I have actually ended up having surgery on both of my knees, but more for other reasons than the chondromalacia. The thing that was best about the surgeries, as far as runner's knee, is that they allow me to do more intense strengthening. If you do go to more PT, be sure to go to a sports PT, preferably a runner. A PT that does not specialize in sports will just say stupid things like, "Why don't you just bike instead?" So that is my unsolicited advise, if you want more free PT advice I am happy to share.

Biking? Ha! What you really should be doing is Cro...

2011-09-02T08:53:14.598-04:00

Biking? Ha! What you really should be doing is Crossfit! Or, is it CrossFit, with a capital "F"? Maybe it should be all capital letters. Yeah! And, make sure you talk about it all the time. ;-P

Now, excuse me while I go dust off my bike in the garage.

Iris- Yes it is copper. And I forgot to mention I ...

2011-09-02T08:05:31.059-04:00

Iris- Yes it is copper. And I forgot to mention I do Yoga while I am riding

Scott- Yes, I did get a little faster by spending all my time and energy running. But it was short lived. After a few months, I just broke down.

Very interesting! Now, with the graph above, would...

2011-09-01T21:17:47.853-04:00

Very interesting! Now, with the graph above, would you say your running speed increased or decreased as your bike miles ramped down, but before the pain cranked up?

You forgot to mention that your bike frame is made...

2011-09-01T20:55:47.244-04:00

You forgot to mention that your bike frame is made of copper. You're also making me want to get a bike. Seriously though, I was extremely happy to see photos of you in race attire. Not sure if you ran or anything, but at least you put on the gear. Baby steps. Kudos!

Aha, the secret!!! I started biking again in the ...

2011-09-01T18:11:22.021-04:00

Aha, the secret!!!

I started biking again in the summer to get ready for an off road Tri in WV in August. All the sudden the hills seem a bit easier in Umstead. Is there a link?