After taking nearly 3 weeks off running to recover from knee strain injury, I returned back into training yesterday. I decided to go easier on myself and instead of outdoor running, I did an easy run indoors on a treadmill at my local gym.

I have to admit, as I first stepped on that treadmill, I was worried. Although I had felt no pain at all for a while, I was worried that doing any running would set my knee back ... but, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I was able to do an easy 4km (in 22min!) smoothly and rather comfortably. My cardio level appeared unaffected by the break -- thank goodness -- but most importantly, my left knee didn't complain at all. *happy dance happy dance!!*

With that said, I can officially say, I will be returning to the TNT regular training sessions this week! 29km here I come!! :P Yay!

Before I log off tonight, I would like to say a special thanks to all my sponsors to date!

Barb Sauder, Christine Takasaki, David Matsumoto, Don Martyn, Gary Suessman, James Heron, James Ko, John Hui, John Ko, Kai Liang, Kathy Tazumi, Laura Oda, Lynette Le, Michael Kim, Milton Reynolds, Muoi Thai and my amazing cousins, Richard Tran, Rossan, Sally Kumagawa, Sandy Chan, Toshiko Yamashita, Yukiko Hipsh!

To my most recent sponsors: Susan Jong, Anna Do, Hui Wing Yang, Gordon Chan, Liana Li, Yoko Matsuno, and Angela Fung. Thank you all!

And of course I have to thank my avid blog readers as well as potential donors =) For those who are wondering when the deadline for me to reach my fundraising goal, it's September 12th :)

Donations aside, as of tomorrow, it will be 1 month before the big run!

Recovery time

Last everyone heard (on this blog) was me looking forward to doing my 29km the following saturday ... and then no word since. No worries, I survived it :) Just that I didn't quite make the milage that I was aiming for.

To start at the beginning: For the past few weeks during my training runs, I had been feeling a slight twinge of pain on my left knee. At first it was only after the run, when I sat down, rested a bit and felt the odd twist in my knee. I admit, I pretty much brushed it aside ... it didn't hurt when I ran ...

Then it started to hurt a bit when I ran. For my 29km run, it was very painful all of a sudden. I think I was around my 14/15km when I felt the sharp jolt of pain. I attempted to do a bit of a trot, but even that didn't help. I ended up walking 8km, until I returned back to the gym. Good thing I had such great team mates (JH, KS, CW ,TT); those 8km would have been heck of a long walk otherwise :)

After the run, I decided I would take minimum two weeks rest from running -- I do have time to spare between now and Sept. 27. Do some yoga and some low level cross training, ease up on the heavy training and strain on my knees. Less running on concrete to relieve the stress on my knees. I have considered perhaps training on my own with a friend on running the beltline for the next few weeks - lower impace on the knee. Or I could always do 10 times back and forth along the beaches boardwalk to get in my 30km. It is 3km each way ... Something I may consider.

So far, in this second week of rest, my knee feels a lot better. I'm missing running a lot though ...but patience, one more week, and I can go back into training again! Lookin' forward to it.

By the way, I think I'm considered an official runner! I've got my first knee injury! woohoo! lol Now lets hope it's my last .... (hopefully) and that its temporary!

Special thanks to JS and LA for wondering about the updates! =)