Russell Yee

Patellofemoral Syndrome (“Runner’s Knee,” 2011)
Got this halfway through my training for my first marathon. Was so painful I thought my nascent running career was kaput. But got some PT (the guy was blessedly unimpressed by the injury) and actually recovered in time to run. Started using a jumper’s knee strap and that has kept it away; have always run with the strap ever since (ergo my funny tan line).

Ilio-Tibial (IT) Band Syndrome (2011)
This was kindof on and off with the above, it took me a while to distinguish the two. Did some stretching and that seemed to take care of it. Still pops up a bit now and then.

Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD, 2017)
Was in Ventura getting ready for the Mountains 2 Beach Marathon when I fell off a low retaining wall (while jumping backwards to get a picture of my family). I did not land particularly hard and did not hit my head but sometime after that I started seeing big “floaters” in my left eye. So the race was off, my first Did Not Start. An ophthalmologist eventually told me I’m just getting old.

Spinal Stenosis (2019)
This is actually just more old age and not because of running. The pain in my upper and lower left leg was debilitating at times. Did PT, Pilates, acupuncture and moxibustion and somehow got better. (I think what actually helped most was just time.) Nevertheless painfully hobbled the Oaktown 5K (downgraded from the Half) because I really wanted the medal with the cool translucent Lake Merritt!

Plantar Fasciitis (2020)
I dodged the bullet on this for over a decade but my turn finally came. In my mind it started after a run when I tried to hit as many “secret staircases” near my house as I could (I went up or down 17) and then did some speed work the same run. Ouch! Started wearing Altra Torin 4 Plushes for rehab, and biked instead of running for a couple of months. This was my left foot (notice the pattern here–all these are on my left side!)

The 17 Secret Staircases Run, with speed work at Lake Temescal

Mallet Toe (2020)
What, something else going wrong?!? So left toe #4 is folding under #3 a bit, needs toe yoga.

Insertional Achillies Tendonitis (2024)
After my Dec 3 CIM BQ I jumped right back into full-volume training for the 2024 Oakland Marathon, reasoning that I was already trained-up. I should have rather thought, “After the CIM I’m beat-up, not trained-up.” Thought it was a bit of plantar fascitis but eventually narrowed it down to IAT. Again, my left foot! Mostly biked and didn’t run at all for a month before the (March 17) Oakland but still had it, and downgraded to the 10K–my 2nd Oakland miss in a row, sigh. (Skipped 2023 because it was very cold, wet, and I had a big trip the next week.) Kept rehabbing through the rest of 2024.

Osteoarthritis & Baker Cyst (2025)
But no, it gets worse! After finally getting the IAT under control, I developed left knee swelling and a Baker Cyst (excess synovial fluid accumulating behind the knee), and had to give up marathon training for the 2025 Oakland marathon about half-way through a 16-week build. So it’s back to PT, slow runs, biking, and wondering if and when I’ll run another marathon.

Trips & Falls
Only about 5 in 11+ years of running, none very bad until one Sept. 2020 (halfway through my Virtual Boston), a very sudden fall where I managed to hit & split my chin (once again on my left side!). Fortunately I had a paper towel with me to hold against it as I continued, and a (COVID-19) mask to sort of keep it covered til the finish. My past 2 falls have been while wearing extra-cushy shoes (Altra Torin 4 Plushes) and I wonder if the extra padding reduces proprioception.

Animal & Human Attacks
Two dog nips, way too many dog chases, sniffs, and licks. Zero human incidents even during tons of night running in Oakland.

Drastic GI incidents
Ask me in person and I will tell you any number of rude, disgusting, unpleasant, unsanitary, and highly distasteful stories! But also some blessed contractor portapotties here are there just when I needed them.