Getting back on the horse

After taking the last week and a half off from running in a futile attempt to nurse my knee back to health, I AM BACK. Well to blogging that is. The first run back last night was rather frustrating as 1. it was NOT very springlike out aka far too cold/windy/rainy/nasty to be running in shorts and t-shirt outside and, more importantly, 2. my knee started flaring up literally half a mile down the Westside Highway. I carried on and did around four miles, not nearly as far as I would have liked to go but I didn't want to overdue it and miss out on gorgeous outdoor runs later this week. It's going to be 68 degrees on Thursday!!! This fact warrants many many exclamation points.

What are you looking forward to as the weather finally starts to warm up?

Either way, I think it's time I bite the bullet and go see a sports therapist to get my knee checked out. It feels like cotton balls are being pulled apart under my knee cap - that's not normal right? Clearly proved that I'm capable of running through the pain but it's not exactly an ideal or sustainable situation. In the meanwhile, I'll limit my running to only 2 times a week (super sadface) and continue crosstraining. Unfortunately, my forays into non-running workouts over the past week have by and large left me unsatisfied and longing to lace up my shoes and go for a jog around Tompkins Square Park. I've tried to focus on activities that will maintain my aerobic fitness while targeting key muscles that need to be rebalanced. In other words, loosen up my calves and hamstrings.

Here's the rundown:

1. Power Vinyasa Yoga: Brushed off my very under-used yoga mat and trotted up St. Mark's to Yoga to the People a few times last week. Tip to anyone who lives in the area - this place is AWESOME (albeit pretty intense). The studio offers free yoga classes with just a $2 mat rental fee and a suggested donation of whatever you can afford. I have yet to be a class that wasn't jam packed so be sure to show up at least 15 minutes before class begins. Luckily they have a ton of sessions even a 9pm one for us late working banker girls. Vinyasa is one of the most aerobic types of yoga, which is perfect for me since I am not well suited to sit around and say 'Ohm' for an hour. ADD, whaaat? And although the YTTP studio isn't heated, with so many people it definitely gets ridiculously hot Bikram style and you work up a mad sweat.
Overall: A- for a good aerobic workout and much needed stretching out of my hamstrings. Slight drawback of utterly embarrassing myself in the camel asana.

2. Elliptical: Ugh. Okay, I know that ellipticals are good for knee injuries since you can closely mimic the motion of running with no pressure on your joints. Fine. But does it have to be so boring? Also, the elliptical basically exercise the same muscles used in running thus failing to strengthen my quads in order to balance out the posterior thigh muscles. Fail.
Overall: C- for being really boring, not strengthening underused muscles, and making me feel like a Jane Hoya at Yates.

3. Stationary Bike: While the bike maybe equally boring, at least I can get a solid workout when the resistance is ramped up. And, more importantly, the bike is the perfect way to target lateral and medial quad muscles with minimal strain on my knee. Might try my first spin class this week to mix things up.
Overall: B for offering a decent workout and meeting most of my crosstraining goals. Still find myself staring jealously at the runners after the first 20 minutes of biking...

Up next: NYRR Colon Cancer Challenge 15K in Central Park on March 28! Sadly the race has already reached it's cap, but Smithies and I would definitely be happy to see some of y'all at the finish line! Keeping my fingers and toes crossed that I'm good to go in two weeks...