Over three days this November, I will be walking 60 miles in the Arizona Breast Cancer 3-Day. This walk will be much more than “just a walk” – it will be raising money to support Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund.

Over the next several months, I will be spending many, many, many hours in training (By the time the walk starts, I will have logged enough miles to take me from Phoenix to my hometown of Houston!

I have committed to raising $2,200 to participate in this walk. Please consider making a fully tax-deductible donation to help me achieve this goal. I’ll be doing all the walking...all you need to do is follow this link to my fundraising headquarters to submit your contribution.

You may know someone who has been affected by breast cancer and I would be proud to walk in her honor as well. Please feel free to send me an email or leave a comment with their name. I will create a ribbon just for them and attach it to my backpack.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death for all women, and the leading cause of death in women between the ages of 40 and 55. Both its cause and the means for its cure remain undiscovered. I’m taking on this challenge to do something big that will help raise awareness and help in finding a cure.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. I hope that you’ll share in this incredible adventure with me. Please leave comments or email me (txaggie02@hotmail.com) if you have any questions.

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Virtual Trainer 16 Weeks

Countdown: 16 Weeks

Your Training Schedule for This Week:
Monday Rest
Tuesday 3 miles Easy walking
Wednesday 15 minutes Moderate cross-training
Thursday 5 miles Moderate walking
Friday 30 minutes Easy cross-training
Saturday 8 miles Easy walking
Sunday 6 miles Easy walking

Training Tip of the Week: Kneecap Pain

"I have this grinding sound when I bend my knee."
"My kneecaps ache after I walk."
"I can’t squat or kneel any more."
"When I sit for a long time and then stand up, I have severe pain all over my knee."

If you have these symptoms, you may have patellofemoral pain syndrome, or runner’s knee.

Patellofemoral pain can occur from overuse of the knee in sports and activities such as running, walking, jumping or bicycling. The kneecap fits into grooves in the end of the thigh bone (femur) called the femoral condyle. With repeated bending and straightening of the knee, you can irritate the inside surface of the kneecap and cause pain. This syndrome also may result from the way your hips, legs, knees or feet are lined up. If you have wide hips or underdeveloped thigh muscles, are knock-kneed, or have feet with arches that collapse when walking (a condition called overpronation) you may be pulling your kneecap out of it’s groove and causing your pain.

What are the symptoms?
The main symptom is pain behind the kneecap. You may have pain when you walk, run or sit for a long time. The pain generally is worse when walking downhill or down stairs. Your knee may swell at times. You may feel or hear snapping, popping or grinding in the knee.

How is it treated?
Treatment includes the following:

  1. Place an ice pack on your knee for 20 to 30 minutes, 3 times a day for 1 week.
  2. Elevate your knee by placing a pillow underneath your leg when your knee hurts.
  3. Take anti-inflammatory pain medication, such as ibuprofen, as prescribed by your health care provider.
  4. When the pain is decreased, start to strengthen your thigh muscles to get the kneecap back in it’s groove. See exercises below.
  5. Infrapatellar strap (a strap placed beneath the kneecap over the patellar tendon) or a neoprene sleeve with a cutout for your kneecap may give you some support.
  6. Have your gait checked for overpronation. Arch supports may be necessary. If your symptoms do not improve seek medical advice.

kneecap stretches


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