Cherry Blossom Recap

This morning was Cherry Blossom. The weather was overcast, about 50 degrees, overall pretty decent for 7:30 a.m.

I started out doing great. I was pacing myself, sticking as best I could to my 9:30/mi goal. (I say "as best I could," because I forgot my watch. Oops. :) ) In the first two miles, everyone around me was really really back and forth on their pace, which I guess is usual for a race of any distance. People would fly past me, and then we'd get to a 1% incline and I'd pass them right back as they were panting going up the "hill."

Somewhere just before mile two, my left knee started feeling weird. I did a few high kicks to try to stretch it out, and that felt worse, so I stopped. From this point on, every step got worse. They had water stations every 2.5 miles, so at the second one (at mile 5), I decided to walk through the station to see if I could shake loose whatever was kinked in my knee. I got to the end of the station, started running again, made it about 100 yards, and that was it. I couldn't go any further. I hopped back to a volunteer, they called the medics who came by and gave me an ice pack, and I called my ride to come meet me. I couldn't even walk, or I at least would have tried to make it to the finish line.

I don't know what happened, but whatever is wrong with my knee, it feels bad. Much worse than anything I've felt in my knees in a long time. I can barely walk right now -- any bending at all is just intense pain.

I am going to put it up, take some pain killers, and see how it feels this afternoon. If it isn't better, I may have to go to the hospital. Sh*t. The run was going well, except for the unbearable pain thing. I was right on pace, averaging 9:25/min when I stopped at the 5th mile marker. I didn't even feel tired at all. I was right where I wanted to be.

I ran twice this week, and my foot was sore, but my knee never bothered me. Whatever happened, it must have happened today. Sigh. What a crappy end to what should have been a fun day.

Edited 3:20 pm: Pain was too much, went to hospital. Got painkillers, a big knee brace, and a referral to an orthopedic who I need to call first thing in the morning...