I got up early to do a test run this morning.  I did 6 miles, however, at about 5.5 miles I got that sharp pain and my knee buckled.  I walked it out for a bit then ran off the rest of the run.

I also had PT today.  Man, my legs got a killer workout.  You know I am learning a lot at PT.  I am definitely going to combine the exercises that I am learning with my own leg routines.

I was watching a guy at PT doing plyometrics type exercises today.  He was rehabing a bad knee.  So I tried to do plyo when I got home, just to see if my knee could handle it.  I really tried to concentrate on landing squarely to keep my knee from buckling.  I was actually able to get through the workout.

Ok, so here is the deal.  I told my PT about my runs and having my knee buckling.  One of the problems with chondromalacia is that once you have it, you always have it.  When I was in the service, my knee colapsed while running an obstacle course.  This was about a hundred years ago when I was a very young man.  Anyway, I was diagnosed with chondromalacia back then.  However, I did not have an further incidents.  I thought I beat the injury.  I didn’t know chondromalacia is a permanent injury.  Looks like it came back to haunt me.

The PT asked me when the last time I did leg training.  I had to admit that I stopped training legs since I began marathon training.  She gave me a look of total disgust.  She told me that the only way to keep my knee cap in its track with chondromalacia is to have strong quads.  She further told me that I can run a few miles while concentrating on running straight and true, however, once I get fatigued and lose concentration, the knee cap can come of its track and cause the sharp pain and buckling.  She said that some folks with chondromalacia can continue running if they strengthen their legs.  Strong quads helps keep the knee cap aligned.  She also said that my goals of doing an Oly distance triathlon is within reason with this knee injury.  Of course, long endurance runs are another story.  She didn’t say it couldn’t be done, but she wasn’t sure we could get my legs strong enough by the time I the marathon comes up.  The marathon is becoming increasingly unlikely.

I am wondering if it would not be wiser to just take time to strengthen my legs and prepare myself for the LavaMan Triathlon.

Oh, btw, I was able to secure a brand new “Insanity” workout still in the box.  A friend of mine bought 2ea “Insanity” dvd workouts, one for himself and one for his sister.  His sister decided that she couldn’t do it so I bought it for $75.  The box was still sealed.  Am I going to do it?  I don’t know, I have to see if my knee can handle it.  One good thing is that, unlike my long runs, the workouts are only one hour long.