challenges

Twice during weekday runs, once this week, once the week before, I ended up with a funny feeling in my right knee, not pain, just a weird sensation as if a muscle or a tendon were twisted or dislocated. Each time it was gone next day. Each time it set in, as far as I could figure out, after the downhill mile on pavement. A mild descent, like the one during big runs on week-ends, so I inferred it was the pavement.

I changed my route slightly to an alternative on a dirt road, and the weird sensation stayed away. That is until yesterday afternoon, when it made its appearance while I was walking around in Barnes & Noble. Perfectly flat.

Kind of worrisome.

This morning I got up at 4 am, but could not move fast enough for an early start. It was 5:40 when I was ready for take-off on the Academy track, my knee wrapped tightly in a mental vise. I did not know what I would do if it started acting up again. The smart thing might have been quitting, and part of me was ready to frolic at the prospect. The other part panicked.

I ran about 11-12 miles with ease, and struggled for another four or five under the gaining sun. Heat just shuts my system down. I must have walked more than half of the last two miles, to reach a cumbersome 19. The knee held.