MCL Surgery, on the road to recovery

Who's happier in this image? My mom or me as I come out of anesthesia from the surgery. 

(Note: I was still a little out of it as you might notice I put my shirt on backwards) 

So for any of you that happen to follow me on Twitter (@timhakr), you’ll know that Wednesday I had my MCL in my left knee repaired. Surgery was at 7am so the night before I didn’t sleep very well.  I was a little nervous but mainly excited to get the surgery done so I could begin to heal. The 45 minute procedure was over before I knew it, after being put under.  Some physical therapy is on the books and slowly easing back into running and cycling. I injured by MCL back in January and had been nursing it with a lot of ice packs and kinesiology tape.  I am anxious to get back on my knee and leg and not having it hurt while running or recovering a few days later. 

So while the MCL was repaired my doctor cleaned up the arthritis.  

Later on during the day I have been able to go without using any stronger pain medication prescribed, as I am feeling pretty good. 

A little more family time, while recovering

I was able to get out with my son mountain biking this past Sunday, second week in a row.  I was just going to go out for a few hours by myself when he asked if he could go again, so really how could I tell him no.  He told me he had fun the last time but he said it was too easy.  So I started thinking I would take him out on a little harder trail.  Loaded up the bikes and we were out the door.  Like before, I lead the way to our destination ( a playground ), with him leading the way back.  He did really well and is getting the hang of it.  There are a few tight corners where cacti come really close to the trail, so I just told him to slow down.  I didn't want to see him get stuck or fall into a cactus.  What a great ride.

I was glad for the slower ride, as my allergies have zapped my energy this week. So many things in bloom here along with the pollen and the wind only makes it worse.

Check out the video below and this will explain the fun out on the trails.   

Update Week Three Marathon Training

After a week difficult running, and getting frost bite from icing my knee too much, I visited a new doctor this morning, actually this time an orthopedic surgeon to have him look over and see what is going on with my left knee.  After a bunch of new x-rays, a bunch of twisting my leg, turning my knee and poking and prodding, an MRI has been ordered.  I've been told to stay off my knee until they can figure out from the MRI just what is causing the pain and how to treat it.  I will still be working on my cardio on the bike and maybe purchase my summer swim pass, to swim laps, earlier than I had planned.  While the doctor what moving my knee around he did not think it was my MCL yet was thinking along the lines of it being my medial meniscus.  This will be found out during the MRI.  With the destination marathon being in late June, I am leaning towards making it a marathon I do on my own, locally here on the same day.   The weather here in Arizona will be quite different than northern Minnesota at the time, but save a lot of money.   I have already started putting together a route that would be 26.2 miles with plenty of gas stations for support.    The marathon in still on,  just a different location.   

Update Week One Marathon Training

I moved my long run from Sunday this past weekend to Saturday.  The day was suppose to be rainy all day so I was up for getting drenched.  I dropped my car off for an oil change and used the time to head out on an eight mile journey.  A little misty rain came down the first mile or so, but I quickly got into a groove and was loving the cool fresh air.  I did not really plan out a route, I just knew I was out for the eight miles.  I was trying to calculate in my head while watching my GPS so I would end up pretty close to my start point.  About four miles into my run, I was noticing ahead of me a few road closures. I knew the Phoenix Marathon was taking place that morning but had no idea what the course was.  I came across the race course twice, slowing down to watch and support those in the event.  Hit the eight miles very close to my start point and felt very strong.  My knee was great the whole run. The problem I had was the next day during the recovery.  It was a very bad day.  Knee was locking up and very sore making it difficult to walk around.  I had to keep icing it and still am three days later. The visit to the doctor Monday night kind of helped but the pain is still there.   I feel like I am a scientist trying to test the limits of my knee and see just how far it will go before it fails.   My schedule is tight this week and I hope I get my week day runs in.

Week Five Marathon Training Update

So this past week I have stuck to low impact workouts and two runs on the still sore knee.  I am working on getting into a doctor to have the issue looked at more in depth. Crazy, normally in the past two years I have issues with my IT band after a bike crash, and that seemed like forever to get taken care of.  I have reworked my training calendar, so really I am still on pace to complete the training program before the June race.  The low impact work on the rollers and riding on the road has me training for a 12 hour mountain bike race also in June.  The weather here in Arizona has been great for getting outdoors.  I put my rollers in the driveway to keep an eye on my kids while they play outside.  Not to many places can say they are in the mid-70's temperature wise this time of year.  I am working on incorporating a light weight set / resistance band work out into my training this week. 

Week Four Marathon Training Update

When it comes down to it, it was the week that was not.   Waited pretty much all week for x-ray results from the doctor dealing with my knee. Workouts were kept to low impact on the bike rollers and road riding.   The night after I got results back I took a short run to work on getting back into it.  The knee is still kind of hurting so I am going to see an orthopedic doctor and see if the issue can be worked out.  I have started to experiment with a Training Mask, which simulates training at altitude.   I will break out my thoughts on it and review it in a few weeks, so hang around for that.