blame it on the babies

so two weeks ago during a 16 mile run my knee started to feel weird. like maybe it was on backwards. completely normal i know. and it was smarting a bit. but workable. after the run i was hurting. so i took two days off. and iced it. and then recommenced training with a few additional runs. sunday we were slated for another 16. knee still felt a bit wonky but i figured what the heck. so we started at the lake. and then continued on to the trail by the creek/stream/small water thing. by the time we hit the second lake i was really feeling it. pain. anytime we would stop. for water. or to use the facilities. starting again was torturous. downhills felt like my leg might snap off. i mentioned not finishing out the 16. maybe just hitting 12 or 13 instead. stopping when i got back to where i was parked. i hate cutting runs short. if anything i usually am the one to push them further. but honestly this isn't my training plan. i'm just along for the ride with my friend's training. so i could justify it in my head. we took a moment to collect ourselves when we hit 12 miles. and then we took off again. and suddenly the horrible grinding pain felt a touch better. so i kept pushing. and finished out the 16. and a sense of relief washed over me. perhaps my knee had fixed itself. (insert maniacal laughter). upon returning home i found walking to be - well - difficult. my knee felt unstable. it made a clicking when i walked down stairs. all in all not good. after a rough saturday night i headed to the dr sunday morning. he asked about changes in training. terrain. etc. then he asked what i do job wise. i told him i stay home with my eight month old twins. a smile spread across his face and he said "that's it. that is your change in routine". so apparently running. combined with carrying around two squirmy babies. chasing after them. kneeling. squatting. etc. has given me patellafemoral pain syndrome. ie runner's knee. he gave me a brace. told me not to do anything that hurts. and suggested i significantly limit how much i: walk up and down the stairs. squat. kneel. bend at the knees. um sure you try to do that with two babies. so i have been resting. as much as i can. while wrangling two small humans. and living life. next weekend is the 20 miler i am registered for. i am anxious to run it. i like the course. the race is small. and i am already registered. i talked to my PT from afar (he's in CO) and he dissuaded me from partaking. ugh. we will have to see how i fair over the next few days...