Training Log Archive: Pia W

Mark's family came over for Easter brunch and I had too much to eat and too little exercise so I talked Mark and the kids into joining me for a walk around the pond. Not the most pleasant walk as Lukas had some attitude problems and was complaining loudly and incessantly about how boring walking is. We eventually managed to distract him, but we had already walked 3/4 of the way around the pond by then :)

Organized a CSU training event today at Long Pond (Middlesex Fells), but had a pretty cushy job as Becky set the courses, Alex/Becky hang the controls, and the Bermans came with their set-up for registration and refreshments. All I had to do was marketing, chatting with people, and collecting the controls at the end. Good turn-out with about 40 participants including some kids and a couple of people, who had never orienteered before. Many happy people enjoying the open woods and the sunshine.

I didn't bring a compass and did a couple of sloppy mistakes when picking up the controls. The woods were lovely, though, with only the occasional green briar. Wished I could run, but my foot did not like the uneven and hilly ground. Will definitively need better shoes than the sneakers I wore today.

Rest day today. Spent the day at home with the kids and don't think I went out except for rolling out and in the trash/recycling barrels. I look forward to spring when I can at least work in the yard while the kids are out playing with the neighborhood kids. Huge thanks to Becky and Alex, who volunteered to hang controls for the training day tomorrow so I didn't have to fight traffic to get to Middlesex Fells after Mark came home from work!

Knee achy and unhappy in general and especially when walking up stairs.

I had a teachers conference with Lukas' teacher before school (all good grades and very encouraging comments; the teacher very impressed by the kind and caring way he helps a classmate with rather severe disabilities as well as his views on gender equality - who would have known; I though all he cares for is basketball) and the weather was so beautiful that I couldn't resist taking a walk afterwards. Very nice and much less snow than last time I was out. I didn't push it so the knee was doing mainly fine except for a few twinges in the uphills. The foot still more aggravated than it has been in a while, but not really bad (level 3-4).

Back to the PT. Added knee extensions and hamstring curls with weights (3 lbs, 3x15) plus one-legged calf raises (straight and bent knee). Was told it is good that the medial knee pain is better as it could have been cartilage damage, but the quick improvement suggests that it was just lack of stretching. The anterior pain most likely just tendonitis. Didn't get any additional advice on the plantar fasciitis more than to use shoe inserts (which I have done on and off) and do the calf exercises.

Elliptical.

At the Y in Needham. I haven't done pilates since my kids were born and don't know if I should say that it was a lot of fun or very painful :) I knew that I have lost a lot of my muscle strength, but it was quite discouraging to realize the level of weakness. So I guess it was good, although I will be sore tomorrow.

Jumped on the ellipticals while at the gym and did a very modest 5 min each on two different models. Knee was fine, but left foot slightly, but distinctly, unhappy.

PT exercises. Same as last time + 2x10 two-legged wall slides.

Went to Beaver Brook to check out the beginner courses for our first Youth Series event. Glad I did this as the playground is under renovation and the park has closed the whole area east of the stream. Pretty slow walking mainly on trails, which my knee could handle fine. Left foot sore while walking today, though, but doesn't bother me while back at home.

Can't remember what is hurting when so I will try logging again. Currently bothered by my right knee and left plantar fascia. Started seeing my old PT in Medfield again last week and have gotten a bunch of exercises (strengthening and stretching) to do at home.

On pavement in the flat parts of our neighborhood. Slight discomfort in the right knee, which got slightly, but noticeably, worse after 25 min walking (2-3). Primarily located in the anterior parts of the knee and getting worse in uphills. The pain in the medial tendons from skate skiing seems to have recovered (at least something to be happy about :). Plantar fascia of the left foot also fine during this easy workout.

Icing and NSAIDs.

PT exercises for my knee and foot plus some more general stuff including core.

Current PT exercises: 6" step-ups (2x15), two-legged calf raises (1x25, straight and bent knee), one-legged eccentric calf raises (3x10), skipped the wall slides as they hurt last time