Drat, sore knee - catch up

Well, I know a blog should be updating you on the most current info. And I like to use this to let you know how races and runs go, but here I am sending you old news! But I still want to record my knee problem and the great help I got.
After the Massey Marathon on the 16 July and some sore quads, I went for a 10k trail run a week later once we were back from Temagami. That night I had a very sore tendon below my knee cap. The stairs were painful as was walking. I wanted to register for the Endurrun in Waterloo and area. But my knee could kill that. So Tuesday I made an appointment at the Health and Performance Centre at the University of Guelph. This is an excellent centre specializing in sports medicine. {It has physio, chiropractors, nutrition, pedologist, massage therapist, ... They are a accredited centre for olympic and carded athletes, and for ordinary guys like me!}. I got in right away and the doctor recommended care for my left quads. They were still very tight from the marathon the week before. The chiropractor, Marco, practiced ART [Active Release Therapy] and I also got a massage from Kelly. It took several days before my knee started to feel better. I tried a 7km run on Friday, and it felt okay but was sore afterwards. I tried a weekend run and since it was not too sore I ended up doing 21km. I felt it a little, but not too much. So that night I registered for the Endurrun. It was a little pricy, but then considering the number of runs it was actually quite fair. I registered before the price increased but the next day my knee was still tender. Icing at work helped a bit, but not enough. Still more therapy at the H&PC. I was getting anxious over the following week since the Endurrun was only another 2 weeks away. I still wasn't running. Marco [of the ART] told me to run and try it out, but the first few nights I couldn't because we were invited for dinner at our friends and the next night was soccer coaching and I was too tired to run once the kids were home and in bed. So.... now a week before the Endurrun and another 5 Peaks trail run, I finally made it out for a 10k run. My knee was actually not to bad! So, having not run for 3 weeks now, other than just those 3, it was time to start my taper?!? Oh well.
Is that a run-on paragraph?
Elise had started to get sick with a bad cough and very tired. She had wanted to do a 5km race close to her 40th birthday. This weekend's 5 Peaks at Mono Cliffs Provincial Park was to be it. With her cold she couldn't. I went myself and meet up with Patrick and Suezanne there. Elise felt terrible. She was disappointed but she'll run the next 5 Peaks in September!
So, running a 11km trail run the day before I start the Endurrun? Pretty crazy, but I love the 5 Peak events and the locations are always beautiful places to run. Patrick was wanted to run the half marathon with me at the Endurrun, but his tummy had been sore for a while and he decided not to run it. He felt pretty good at the 5 Peaks run. Next year I definately think he'll run the Endurrun. He was very jealous and I really would loved to be doing the event with him. We run most of the same events and we have a lot of fun doing them together. Hopefully this blog will keep him posted and feeling a little bit a part of it.
Oh, a slight problem happened at about 9km of the 5 Peaks! Over a fairly technical section, all of a sudden I twisted my left ankle!! Drat! I had just passed a few guys but this hurt! I limped along for a 100m only to have to decend a cliff full of switch-backs. That was quite painful and those guys passed me again. That past, the course was pretty much downhill, soft, and smooth so I started running again as my ankle was okay as long as it did not twist left or right. I had been having a good race so now I opened up for the last 1km to regain my place. So, go-go-go, and crossed the finish line - got ice right away. I had 160km more to do this week!
Oh, and a postscript about the 5 Peaks draw prizes. I finally won something! After 3 years and 11 events, both Patrick and I won a prize [a nice 5 peaks tee shirt that I'd give to Elise].
Now... off to the Endurrun!