Med City Half Marathon minus the Med

If you are a Wisconsinite, your chances of signing up for a marathon that isn't cancelled are currently very low:

La Crosse
Green Bay
Madison (added to the list today)

We happened to choose the Med City Half today (Rochester, MN), where they gladly accepted transfers from the Madison Marathon and announced there would be "no cap" on the number of runners allowed. (perhaps this was a way of the Mayo Clinic saying they could handle the emergencies?!)

Anyway, with nearly 3000 runners, there was a very frantic scene at the busses in Rochester this morning when they suddenly realized we needed to pack into the busses in a highly illegal and sweaty way in order to tranport all the runners to the start in Byron Minnesota, 13 miles to the west, by 7 am. It looked like everyone made it.

This race would be tough. Very strong headwinds (how often do winds come out of the east, seriously?) and a high projected in the 90's. It is a hilly course on roads with a net downhill. I lined up with  Jen, from the blog Marathon Mom, very nice, cool girl even in real life. I had to point out this woman to her at the startline, whose physique, I couldn't help but admire.

Maybe you can't tell how tall and thin she is in the photo, but she just looks like someone who will take charge of a race and she did. She took first for the women and 5th overall in 1:22. Her name is Laura Brostolon and she is from Connecticut.

She was only 4 minutes behind this guy, who ran in 1:18:20. He had a good race, though is probably in 1:14 shape minus the headwind. Here he is holding a big sponge.

My race was unremarkable, other than my attempts to draft off of men around me like a big, prickly burr on their back. I think they liked it.

I ran a pretty even-tempo'd race and came in with the 1:35 pacer to take 4th for the women (out of 509 women).... (actually the pacer, Kelly, let me finish ahead for her and then she showed up as taking 4th in the official results because of her chiptime- how naive of me to think that pacers didn't get a placement!) I think this could be considered a relative PR, since my current PR is 1:33. SR and the leading men estimated one could take at least 4 minutes from the finish time if there weren't a headwind and high temps. That would land me at about a 1:31, which is a lot faster than I thought I could run right now.

I didn't even think I could run a 1:35 today, especially given my ITB, which amazingly, didn't bother me during the race. Let's just say I'm getting excited for the full marathon at Grandma's June 16th.


Another thing that went well for me this race was I had no stomach issues! I made the big decision on Tuesday to go off the PPI (stomach acid blocking med) that I have been on since I was 19 years old! I got acupuncture to help prevent the pain of the rebound acid on Thursday. And now it seems that it was all of that inadequately digested food being sent from my stomach to my intestines that was causing a lot of my distress. Plus now I actually get heartburn when I eat things I shouldn't - and that might be a good thing!

There are no pictures of me posted yet, so I will leave you with the guy who I aspire to be like when I am 60:

The men's 3rd place winner, David Kallmes, who ran in 1:21:12

Recommended in Rochester: Fiksdal Hotel &
Goonie's Comedy Club - try the bean burger with peanut butter!

short article - advice needed!

Dear Friends and Anonymi:

 After a somewhat unusual sequence of events, I have been asked by the head editor at the journal American Family Physician to write a brief (250 words or less) synopsis of my experience with pregnant marathon running. This has not been easy to summarize in 250 words! But since I have this blog, I have the luxury of showing it to some people who know a thing or two about this subject. I would be so grateful for feedback. Being harsh is preferable to pretending you like it when you don't. Thank you.

It wasn’t like me to be so winded going uphill or have to stop to walk as I neared the marathon finish line. It was a relief (and a thrill) when the pregnancy test came back positive. 


 This was the first of six marathons I would run during my pregnancy. I had no chance of beating Ingrid Christiansen’s pregnant marathon record of 2:33, set when three months pregnant in 1982. I ran mine at a comfortable pace, with friends by my side, in times of 4:34, 4:19, 4:18 and 4:56 between 10 and 27 weeks of pregnancy. 


When I was 30 weeks pregnant, my midwife agreed I could run The Copenhagen Marathon. Spectators screamed from street corners and hung out of windows to catch a glimpse of my belly. Around mile 16, I started getting Braxton Hicks contractions, though they eventually became less pronounced and I made it across the finish line in 4:54. 


 My recovery from that marathon was long, but I was glowing for weeks. I was overwhelmed by the positive feedback I received, including that of multiple women who had already run or went on to run their own pregnant marathons. I felt I had played a small part in a movement empowering women to continue running, even long distances, while pregnant. 

>
 After 39 weeks, our beautiful, little son was born. And even today, I can’t help looking at him and thinking, “you were there with me, all of those wonderful miles.”

I finally finished a race!

Since the Mad City 50k on March 31st, I have been recovering. Slowly. And today was the first day I knew I was ready for the race I was about to run.

Granted, I knew nothing about the  Morris Challenge 5k , except that the proceeds went to a scholarship fund. They changed the route this year, as I found out at the start, to be on trails from Holmen, through the woods down to the Mississippi and back up again. Good switch from all pavement. But this of course meant I could forget that PR idea.

Having gotten up at 5:30 am for an 8 am race meant I had time to run the entire route before the race started. I found this to be hugely advantageous. I took some pictures of the hills just to prove it was a tough course, but it turned out they were videos and not pictures. There was a significant net downhill on the way out and, as you could probably calculate, the reverse on the way back.

By the time the start rolled around, it seemed my stomach had finally calmed down (yes, problems, again). I really hoped that I wouldn't have to stop in the woods in front of all these people.

There were ??? 100 ??? starters and lots of representatives from both the River City Running Club and the Bluff Busters Tri Club. My friend Ron and I decided we'd both run it in about 21 minutes.

Above is a picture from the beginning. The first quarter mile was run around Holmen Park so we woulnd't have too much of a bottleneck problem on the trail. I ran the first two thirds of the race behind a guy going about 6:40 pace. This seemed reasonable. After the turnaround I could see the next woman was about a minute back. I pulled ahead of the guy I had been running with with about a mile to go. He cheered me on, which I loved. There is always something that is the limiting factor at the end of a hard-run 5k. Today it was my stomach. Despite a 50 mile bike ride the day before, my legs were okay and my ITB was a bit sore, but didn't hold me back. I willed myself up the terrible last ascent and made it across the finish line in 20:56 (6:44 min/mile pace).

I had won for the women, which was nice, because there were prizes,

(thanks for the skirt, Olga!!) but what I really wanted to know was what my real time would have been on a flat course. I talked to the male leaders and the guy who had won in 18:10 had just recently run a flat 5k 40 seconds faster. So given my longer time, my calculations say I can run a 5k in perfect conditions in just over 20 minutes right now. This is NOT where I want to be. But where we want to be and where we are rarely line up. It's like a solar ecplipse, I guess.

I loved this trail and I got an awesome workout. Those are reasons enough to come. I got a free chiropractic maniplulation and massage on my ITB post race. (perhaps the best treatment to date!! from Dr. Julie at  revive  in Onalaska). And I learned from ecologist, Ron, that many islands in Asia and Indonesia have lost almost all of their rainforests due to the harvesting of tree pulp for TOILET PAPER.

Is it reasonable to make a family switch to clothes/cloths (sp??? - not like running shorts) that we wash out and then hang to dry? What would the guests say? (seriously, look this up - it is true)

By the way, if I ever run with music again, I'll be sure to let you know!! (I bet this is just a phase)

I will leave you with the Mattias pic of the day.

It's log

Everyone wants a log. It's better than bad; it's good.
-Ren & Stimpy

I've never been the type to keep a running log. But this week has just been special.

Plus, I heard a quote on the radio that went like this: writing about boxing is like writing about yourself and I figure that must apply to writing about running, too, right? (try not to get mowed over by sweeping generalizations)

Saturday: run 26 miles on Ice Age Trail 50 route.
Sunday: swim for 1 hour with Onalaska adult swim team. During the 50 meter intervals, I beat my old record of 53 seconds on one with a 50 meters in 50 seconds (thank you coach Francis!). Woohoo! That was during a set of 6. And I was presented with a team swim hat on the same day. Then spinning for 45 min. Run 6 miles.
Monday: 17 mile run despite wicked e.coli, 20 min bike with kids in trailer.
Tuesday: run 2 mile warmup, ½ mile intervals on flat dirt trail with half mile markers! (2 min rest)
                 1. 3:20
                 2. 3:22
                 3. 3:10
                 4: 3:17
                 5: 3:16
                 6: 3:23
                 7: 3:18
                2.5 mile cooldown
                group strength training class, 40 min bike with friend, quick swim, 20 min bike with kids
Wednesday: 19 mile slowspiritual run with SR, 20 min bike with kids.

Total: 76 miles run in 5 days! I'm finally running again and just in time for the good weather. I should mention that I can't do hills, though. The left ITB can't take them yet.

The above was the first set of intervals I had run in 17 weeks. Oh my gosh does time fly! I am so happy to be able to run them again. I wasn't thrilled with the times, but I haven't lost as much ground as I had feared.

Aside: I have been rethinking the two minute break thing again in intervals. Basically, I think the rest should start at 1 min and get progressively longer after each interval. If the point is for the rest to get the pulse down and lactic acid flushed out, it should take progressively longer time. I don't know who came up with the idea of each rest period being of the same length. Doesn't make sense to me.

Diastasis Recti

I have to thank Brianna for mentioning diastasis recti as a possible explanation for my belly pooch since Mattias' birth. I had not thought of it (though SR said he had suspected it when I mentioned it to him). I just looked online and did the test for it where you lean back into a crunch position and attempt to fit three fingers between your abdominal muscles above your belly button. I could exactly fit three, so I guess this means I just meet the criteria for having diastasis recti. From what I read, my goal of setting the world record in plank holding may need to be reevaluated as planks seem to be the number one exercise for making the condition worse (I have to wonder if that is part of the reason I got this- and why it didn't go away). I have to be honest that I am not going to modify my exercising, though, because I am kind of fond of my pooch belly as long as it is not a sign of something malignant inside of me.

I found this website helpful. They are trying to sell stuff, though.

Edit (May 17th)- right after I finished this post, I forced SR into a crunch position on the floor and I measured the width between his rectus abdominus muscles above his belly button and it was actually WIDER than 3 finger widths. What does this mean? Either 1. Poor SR has diastasis recti, too or 2. I am actually normal (but perhaps have thin fingers?) or 3. I have mild diastasis recti and the normal width in males in wider.

....

Heard and read in La Crosse, WI:

said: "grody to the max!"
written: "What is your favorite past time?"

(to the second, I don't think they wanted my answer, which was "The Renaissance")

Ice Age Trail 50

I did it! And by that, I mean I did half of it.

But running 26 miles of hills must be a sign that I am almost completely recovered from the IT band injury.

Just 2 days prior to the IAT 50 miler, I decided I'd give it a whirl. Basically, Alicia Hudelson had been bullying me via Facebook messages to run it. Yes, the last time you all heard from me, I managed a measly 9 miles at the Chippewa 50k. So why, two weeks later, would I attempt a 50 miler? Well, the coolest thing happened: a little over a week ago, I went to a massage therapist who kneeded out the knot in my left quad over a half an hour. An hour later, my entire upper left leg was in burning pain and turned dark blue (the front and back). The next day I was sore, but could actually run normally again. We spent this past week in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. at an ophthalmology conference (ARVO) and I ran about 13 miles a day every day without a hint of pain (on pancake flat routes, of course)! I had no idea what the upper limit was, so, since my mom had agreed to babysit Mattias and SR was taking The Lorax back to La Crosse, the conditions for running were nothing short of ideal.

The start, north of La Grange, is about a 45 minute drive south of my parents' house. I had not tapered, did not eat much the day before and was not mentally or physically prepared to run 50 miles. But my drop bags were prepared, as was my running belt. The morning of the race, I was energetic and, in my humble opinion, looking good. I slept well the night before, but had to pull over our minivan "Busboos" twice on the drive there as I scampered into some bushes with stomach issues.

 The start: wow 350 racers for a 50 miler!! And on one website I had been listed among the female contenders to win. Who knew. Maybe this would be my day.

Female Parts

The first 9 miles are on hilly cross-country ski trails. My stomach was working against me. Not many places to hide; I had to give intstructions to the people passing me: "Don't look!". I came out of this section having run between 8 and 8:30 minute per mile pace and on pace to run around 7h30min. I knew the race would get more technical, but I made the decision at that point that if my ITB forced me to a pace that would take me over 8 hours, I would drop. Sounds ambitious, but either this was going to be a big 50 mile PR or I was saving my lags for another race.

Drugs


When you are injured, drugs are tempting. A guy I ran with had been struggling this year with ITB problems and said he had hyrdrocortisone injections waiting for him in both drop bags and someone willing to inject him at these aid stations. Is this just common practice nowadays for a physician to prescribe hydrocortisone to get an athlete through a race? As Triumph the dog from Conan might say "that is a great idea... for me to poop on." Yeah, like if that physician's goal is to have his patient prolong his recovery and risk more injury, then, yeah, that is great practice.

Rock & Roll

I came through the half marathon in 1:51. I was making good time and really enjoying myself. The course is so beautiful. Even as a Wisconsinite, who should be used to this stuff, I found myself saying out loud many times how gorgeous the course was - and it is!! Esker lookouts, pine needle trails, wildflowers. The "rock & roll" part was a woman who very insistantly passed me and my running buddy and then tripped over a rock and took a fall right in front of us. But later it would be my turn, as the ITB started to tighten... I did a root and roll. Oh and, by the way, headphones were not allowed, so sorry in advance about the lack of running song!

Sugar

By mile 15, my left quad was feeling a little tight. I had a gu and the tightness went away. I found it interesting the number of people who recommmended sugar or calories as the best pain killer. There might be something to this. But 20 miles, the tightness was back and the downhills were uncomfortable. I made the decision to drop- at some point- reminding myself there was a long season still ahead and goal races should be saved for the uninjured me. I was passed by a woman from Ohio who was very nice and who I had run with in the beginning (wish I knew her name). And then the leaders started coming through on their way back from the 22 mile turn around. Zach Bitter, who had won the Mad City 50k was in the lead. The two leading women were not women I recognized. Turns out it was Denise Bourassa and Melanie Peters (who would go on to take first and second, respectively. I could not believe that there were 8 women ahead of me despite me being on pace to beat last year's winning time! What competition! At mile 24, I started walking the downhill and this is when I decided to drop at the next aid station. I ran/hobbled to mile 26 with a guy from Juneau, AK and a guy from Madison.

Magic
Only at a race like IAT can you have such an awesome day and only finish half of the race.

Here, at about mile 18 is Sandi Nypaver, last year's winner, being closely chased by this year's winner, Denise Bourassa.

Denise ended up winning by a wide margin in 7:13. Sandi was third, clearly affected by the fast early pace, finishing about 15 minutes slower than last year.

Sex 

As long as I almost have the entire Red Hot Chili Peppers album here, I had better keep going. Yes, sex is what got me these two.

I was a proud mom on mother's day biking around La Crosse with my babies. On days like yesterday, I sit and look at them completely dumbfounded .. how did this miracle end up happening? I went through most of high school, all of colllege and all of med school without menstruating - had written off the idea of ever getting pregnant- and then...

I will leave you with some pictures from Fla. I love writing Fla.

Like, oh my God(!), why does my belly always pooch out like this? I'm not being  (only) vain, I have more been worrying lately that I have ovarian cancer or something since people keep asking me if I'm pregnant. (I'm not) But then all last night and today, I ENTIRELY evacuated my GI tract due to a TERRIBLE bout of either E. coli or Salmonella, probably from fresh veggies and suddenly my belly was flat. (I also ran 17 miles in the midst of it). Despite having gained weight recently - up to 108 lbs, I hit my lifetime low with all of the dehydration: 101.6 lbs- but I figured this was good training for the very hot summer ultras. On a slightly related note, I have made some major changes to my diet, including a lot more protein from fish and I think this also has helped my leg to heal. 

This was the view from the penthouse hotel room we were given because the guests who were supposed to get it didn't show up.

So what is next, you ask:

Morris Challenge 5k this Saturday

½ marathon (Med City) May 27th

Got Energy Olympic distance tri June 10th

Grandma's marathon June 16th (thanks again, Alicia and see you there Divesh... and Steve Q?)

Chippewa 50k 2012

I stripped down, in my normal clod-like stripper fashion, into my sports bra and shorts, and stood up on a grassy noll in front of the starters of yesterday's Chippewa 50k. What should I wear? Or rather, "you have three minutes to decides, SLG, are you going to run this race fast or slow?" Alicia Hudelson nuzzled her way into the starting pack bare shouldered and my question was answered. I was going to get rid of the long-sleeved shirt and go for it.

Alicia, who we had shared fine chocolates and jokes with in our Edgewater Motel room the night before, had created an algorithm of the women's finishing times based on a very complex set of factors. SR and I found it extremely entertaining. As much as I adored the spreasheet, I refused to tell her if I was going to attempt to run fast. When she had mentioned on my blog that she had to add another fudge factor into the Chippewa equation after Syllamo, I thought she was joking.

I have been injured since the Mad City 50k 4 weeks ago and since 3 Days of Syllamo 3 weeks before that. I haven't been able to run more than a few miles without tightness in my ITB. The problem stems from a serious tear in my left quadriceps. I hadn't run for 6 days, though, prior to yesterday... and I am an optimist by nature. Yet, I knew it was stupid to race. But when we were two miles in and I felt nothing except a growing inner warmth and the feeling of flight up down and around the twists of the trails, I was transported - to my version of heaven. My speed and happiness increased. By 10k, I was on track to running around 4:35, which would have been good enough for a course record. If my left quad could take it, I had no doubt the rest of my body could hold the pace. I was close to passing the first female, Christine Crawford.

 But then my left foot started to go lame. I tripped twice over things I would normally be able to step over. And then the pain came in my left knee and gluteal insertions. By mile 9, I had to walk. I walked to the mile 10 aid station where Helen "roll it out" Lavin and Karen Schoenrock awaited. One could never ask for more at an aid station than these two smiling faces (and some snacks). Helen was prepared for me with a foam roller. What does she not think of? Oh and a long-sleeved shirt. "Roll it out, put this on, and get going!" Despite the fact that I look up to Helen in every way, this was not good advice. I rolled that mangled mess of a muscle out and, heck, it felt better - for a mile - and then I started crying. It KILLED. I turned around, greeted the runners who were behind me. I was happy to see Maria, who I had met the night before, fellow lover of Sonic Youth and NB minimalist trail shoes, and to finally meet Julie Treder. It is hard not to keep smiling, when people who have no real reason to - pull for you, care about you.

Rice is great when you're hungry and you want 2,000 of something. - Mitch Hedberg

Then I was wrapped up in my own misery. "I will never run again because I have a sarcoma (or maybe a metastasis) in my left thigh and to make matters even worse, I ate about 10,000 calories last night of Indian food to get ready for 31 miles - and I've only made it 10. Plus I'm cold. This sucks." I made it back to Helen and Karen at just about the time SR flew through on the way back, in first place, way ahead of pace for a course record. He had no time to talk. There were four fast men in running jerseys and stockings on their arms ready to pass if he were to flounder or even slow.

 "Why don't you ride with me back to the start?" says a mysterious 60 something man. I would soon learn this was Tony Ovesen, who just ran Zumbro 50 miler on a broken foot. I hope I am like him when I am 65. He laughed when I said that and said he was so bored with life that he was going to move to Germany. He really must be bored... And he was wearing these Hokas (as were Alicia H and Chris Scotch!)

Back at the start/finish, I hung with the supporters and volunteers. God, some of these people are incredibly cool. Following their loved ones hither and thither. And volunteers who love the sport enough to cook for the participants. This is what makes the world of ultra running a wonderful world unto its own. Randy Fulton, the race director, was ecstatic at the prospect of course records. The two of us went out to a spot 3 miles from the finish to wait for SR. I mentioned en passant that SR was probably cramping. "WHAT'S his name?" "Raymond?" "Brad?" "Raisin"? It was beyond hilarity. I said SR's name 5 times or more and Randy just could not believe anyone would have a name like that.

"Oh, he's coming!" I shouted. "Here comes... The Dane!" announces Randy. SR had tears in his eyes and was wincing and gasping in pain. He was cramping. I started screaming - shouting him on- "You have the course record - by 15 minutes - you HAVE to keep going" he kept going, though very slowly for him. We gathered at the finish and I ran out to run with him. I wanted to push him on the rear up the hill because he was in so much pain. He was easily on track for the course record. I just kept screaming in excitment. This was almost more fun than racing myself! He had tears in his eyes again, I would later learn, because I was there to do it with him." He crossed the finish line in 3:51:27. 8 minutes faster than Brian Peterson's record from last year.

Here is what Randy wrote on Facebook:

1. Rasmussen Goes - CHAMPION - 3:51:27! Running in road shoes and a 79cent water bottle from a Walmart. Go figure.

(okay, so I actually changed the name to what Randy tweeted, but he did get it right on Facebook :)

Then four guys came in shortly after him, all beating Brian's time from last year. The third place guy, Jake Hegge, is a 20 year old from UW La Crosse who just dropped out of the track team to have more time to run long on trails. One should mention, the conditions were perfect for trail running yesterday. In the women's race, Christine Crawford won with a course record of 4:35 something despite a sprained ankle from mile 8! Alicia Hudelson

Above Alicia with a tank top that proclaims she is bringing it and the accomplished ultra runner fiancé, Divesh, there to hold back the competition.


took second and beat her own carefully-calculated expectations with an awesome time of 4:58 and beating the 3rd place woman by mere seconds. I was so proud of her. Seriously, to know this woman is to love her.

SR is in the shape of his life and it was such a chance opportunity that I got to witness the best running performance of his life to date. On the drive home, we both got tears in our eyes, talking about the magic that just happened, the magic that can continue to happen when we are in it together and there to support each other.

Manipulating the Nether Lands Worked!

Couldn't help the title (partly) after noticing that a young guy: Butter, Michael Butter, from Holland took 7th in The Boston Marathon today. You know he is an unknown when I do a Google search for his picture and George Clooney comes up. Now why is it that The Boston Marathon is run on a Monday again?

The other reason for the title is I found the cure to my ITB! Or so it seems. I ran 10km pain free today. Okay, a little twinge in my right hamstring and a tightness over the left knee at the end, but I felt awesome!! Should I admit I got tears in my eyes, I was so happy?

What did I do?

I manipulated my leg and butt on the left - for hours. I watched two videos on youtube over and over: one about deep tissue massage for the ITB and the other on Active Release technique and performed them on myself while watching. Oh and I concentrated a lot more on the gluteal insertions than they do in these videos. And it hurt! But eventually, last night, I felt something give and I, for the first time since the Mad City 50k, went to bed without pain in my leg.

This morning I ran in the sun on trails and YIPPEE!!

Tonight I went for another massage with Lone (she seemed amazed by the amount of change in just 3 days) and tomorrow - no running.

Whoever says conservative treatments for running injuries (specifically ITB) don't work needs to keep their mouth shut. I got so sickened by the amout of people trying to sell crap on YouTube claiming that this and that conservative treatment doesn't work. Sure, maybe they don't all work for everyone. But there is no reason not to start with RIC (okay, so the E: elevation is pointless unless you are actively bleeding) and, by the way, don't ever take ibuprofen; that stuff does not help healing. It takes pain away and makes you run when you shouldn't. Besides RIC, other effective conservative measures: massage, stretching and (as Jill Homer mentioned, and which should never be neglected is) cross training. The great thing about cross training is it not only prevents future injury but keeps your blood flowing, loosens up ligaments just keeps you feeling good. I have found my hip adductors to be particularly important in cross training with ITB. But one must avoid doing more injury! Don't do it if it hurts!!!!

But, as pointed out earlier, ITB syndrome is a manifold condition. What works for me may not work for others. The number of iterations of and reasons for IT band inflammation approaches infinity - but I am only saying, if you catch it early enough and rest and manipulate, it might just work.

Now, onto responding to a comment from my good friend, anonymous, from my last post:

One thing: get a gait analysis. One thing that strikes me whenever you post race pictures, especially towards the end of your races, is that you've got pretty ugly form: hunched over, bent from the waist...

I will try for a brief moment to not focus on the word "ugly" and ask: is it my gait or my posture I need to fix? I do realize it is hard from looking at the pictures, but I lean back so much when I run that everyone thinks it is some kind of a joke. It used to give me hip issues, but since I started running in minimalist shoes, those have disappeared. I still run leaning back, but my hips are at least spared since I'm not jamming my heels. What kind of help does one get from a gait analysis? To me "gait analysis" always meant "method by which shoe company/store tries to get you to buy unneeded shoe product." Am I wrong?

you may be right that this episode is stemming from compensation due to your quad issue, but I can't help but believe your form is contributing to your issues.

It was not compensation due to quad problems. The vastus lateralis actually bled and the inflamation around the bleeding made the muscle stick to the the iliotibial tract. This is what I could tell short of opening up my leg and looking.


Also, runner's knee is different than ITBS -- not a Danish translation issue. The "official" name in the literature for runner's knee is "chrondromalacia patella" although I have likely spelled that wrong.

The Danish "løberknæ" - literal translation: "runner's knee" is Iliotibial band syndrome, or in Danish "tractus iliotibialis friktions syndrom". Look it up if you don't believe me. I had never heard the term "runner's knee" in English, but I looked it up and I guess it refers to Patellofemoral Pain syndrome. So in fact, it is a Danish translation issue. Runner's knee in one country is apprently not the same as runner's knee in another. You learn something every day!

I'll post pictures now to make me happy.

Da Vinci paints Henriette in Albertslund before the CPH ultra.




My mom sent these from her iPhone.




I can't believe El Guapo got his first tooth without me there. But I am so happy there is Skype- yet poor El Guapo must think I have turned into a boobless screen.


Okay, and sorry about all the songs, for those of you who dislike music, ehem, but they make me feel less lonely. And if anyone out there is as much of a music lunatic as I am, perhpas you'll like them, too.

The song I was listening to when I started crying during my run:

It is the Miike Snow (Swedish) remix of Amadou & Mariam's (Malian) Sabali (don't be fooled by the low-fi start).




Want more Miike Snow?



And the most beautiful Beach House song yet?