My knee felt like new today. I’m happy about that. When I got home from work I helped put the kids to bed and then headed out for a swim/run brick.
I swam 2 warm-up laps and just thought to myself, ok, slow down to go fast.
Then it was time to do it. I started my swim in earnest. Nice and slow. I focused on breathing out under water and keeping my form. The swim felt good, really good. I swam and swam. Once in a while I would speed up a little and start feeling winded. Then I would slow way down and I would actually be able to catch my breath. I swam 11 laps straight in slightly over 11 minutes. I stopped for a minute or two and then kept going. I did the next 7 laps in about 8 minutes. I swam half a mile in under 22 minutes with only one break!!! I could not believe it. I was psyched. Now I want to focus on doing the whole half mile in one shot with no breaks.
I took a shower with my head held high. What an awesome feeling. Unfortunately that feeling wasn’t going to last. I got in my running gear and started my 3.5 mile run. About a mile in my left knee started getting tight. I must have adjusted my run because a little over halfway through the run my right knee started to hurt. Where I had worked hard before to keep my heart rate below 152, I was now struggling to keep it above 141. at the 2 mile mark my knees were really hurting me. I was visibly limping. I had to walk.
I walked for a few minutes then sacrificed my knees by running the rest of the way. It was just taking too long to walk. When I got home I was really sore. I iced my knees and went to bed.
I’m not sure what the issue is with my knees. I’m guess it was one of two things, or maybe a little of both. Either my knees were still inflamed from the weekend, or my leg muscles were too sore, weak to support my legs thereby adding a large amount of impact onto my knees. Either way I am going to take off until Saturday to make sure I don’t get hurt.
Despite the knee issues, I’m feeling great about my swim. W00t!