I ran my first half marathon of the season this past Sunday. It was the Hypothermic Half organised through the Running Room stores across the country. Very good first run of the year because you don't expect much of a result but it also kicks you in gear for the spring and summer races. Anyway, it was a slow 2:14 but that's what I was expecting with very little long distance running over the winter and a longest run of 8K. What came after was a little troubling. On Monday I traded my recovery run for one of my two weekly hockey games. With 2-3 mins left on the clock, as I was standing in front of the opposing net waiting for a pass, some guy fell on my left leg and bent my knee to the side. Needless to say that this was the most excruciating pain I have ever felt in my life. Luckily the knee is not broken and amazingly enough, no major damage to ligaments or tendons from what the doc can tell. Some inflammation and stiffness with the odd pain from twisting it while walking in the snow or on ice.
So this is it for my hockey season I believe. I don't want to jeopardize my running season with Nath and the girls any more than it is. I'm hoping to recover from this within a week or two and be back putting miles on my legs so I can complete my other races for this spring. I have a 10k in Minneapolis end of April, the Winnipeg Police Services Half on May 6 followed by the RCAF Half Marathon run May 27 and finally the Manitoba Marathon on Father's Day in June. After that it will be a summer of golfing, cottaging and beer drinking by the fire pit. What a way to live!
See ya next time.
Chuck
