My New Running Look

I cannot believe that I am at the point where I am saying "I hate to run" because under normal circumstances, I love to run very much. But this LONG distance stuff (anything over 12 miles) is pure torture. I am having serious knee issues and this is what I look like now when I go out for a run:

What a NERD I am!! I don't think I will have to worry about any of those scary men whistling at me now. The willingness to look like a complete nerd demonstrates how badly my knees hurt. I am hoping these braces will help. Jeff couldn't stop laughing at me when I put them on. I didn't care because he looked like a nerd himself with his little shin splint brace on his leg, which I tried to get a picture of but my battery died. I WILL GET ONE THOUGH!

I am at the point now where we have committed with Team in Training to run this thing and I am too stubborn to quit. I really feel strongly about the cause and the commitment we have made so I just can't do it. I may come crawling across the finish line, but I WILL NOT QUIT!

**Oh, by the way, our personal running blog of our journey to Chicago got taken down by blogger- - something about it being flagged as a SPAM blog, so I had to create a new one. In case anyone cares to follow, our new address is http://www.reason4running.blogspot.com/

I kneed advice

OK so I need some advice on what people do when injuries just aren't getting better. My right knee has been bothering me for months. I take time off, it feels better initially but after a couple of weeks of running( and finally feeling like I'm back in my groove) it hurts again. Last Saturday started out well. I was going to do about 8 miles. With about a mile left my knee was hurting but not too bad. I came to a busy road (hwy99) and sprinted across because had a green light that was changing quickly. Well, that was not a good idea. I felt a sharp, kind of burning pain in my knee and could barely make it to the other side. I walked the last mile needless to say. So , my question is has anyone gone to a doctor with knee or other injuries and actually had it help? I feel like I need to do something different so I can start running more consistently but don't know of too many success stories with visiting a doctor. Any advice?