Mel On...Strong Knee, Weak Everything Else??

Well, I just got back from another visit with my primary doctor today.  Still no official diagnosis on my knee pain but between the two base doctors I have seen and my physical therapist we have discussed everything from the meniscus, ACL, and IT band to runner's knee, Baker's cysts, angry hamstrings, and inflammation, etc.

I did have several x-rays done this morning and the initial review was great.  The guy said my knee bones looked flippin' fantastic so now it's down to issues with the muscles/tendons/ligaments.  AGH! Not that a bone injury would have been good news, it's just that I feel like I won't ever get an answer as to WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY KNEE.

Mel On...Rock'N'Roll Madrid Half Marathon

After getting over my pity party the other day and finally being able to stomach something besides bananas and chamomile tea, we left for Madrid on Friday.  I still wasn't feeling 100% but the excitement of traveling to a new place, the whole race atmosphere (and maybe a few pitchers of Sangria), finally qualifying for my World Rocker Medal, and my husband convincing me (in his own loving way) to "put my big girl panties on," I snapped out of it!

Mel On...Pity Party for One

Well, I still haven't been able to get myself out of this "funk" I've been having.  I have a lot going on behind-the-scenes and I think it's starting to really affect me. Our veterinarian recommended we put our 9 yr-old dog down soon.  I always feel so weird calling her our "dog."  She has always been way more than that.  She is our friend, our girl, our Sadie. I know it's the best thing for her but it still sucks a fat one knowing that we have to make that call, to set a date...it breaks my heart even thinking about it.

Mel On....Running Happy (and then completely slacking)

We just got back from a week long trip to Pula over Spring Break and I totally fell off my little training bandwagon.  Probably not a good thing to do two weeks before a race I am hoping to PR for...neither were those three bottles of wine I also consumed during that trip...

BUT, I did do one run while we were there. Just an easy 3 miler along the coast of Croatia...no biggie...

Talk about #RUNHAPPY.  I only thought the fields in my village were my "happy place."  THIS.  This is my happy place!

Mel On...Strong Butt, Weak Hamstrings

That is basically what my physical therapist told me today.  (Yes, mother...I finally kept an appointment for my knee).  He warned me that I could be angering my meniscus and that I still have some swelling but the good news was that we weren't at a damage control stage yet.  He wants to work on more preventative/strengthening measures (to include R-E-S-T) but, he did give me the go ahead to continue training for Madrid (like that was going to stop me).