Today I was going to tell you guys all kinds of things.
Like how the Rock'n'Roll Half-Marathon has a spiffy new course.
And how Runner's World had an August-issue article + training plan to prepare for a sub-2-hour half-marathon.
And how I just preordered one of these.
And how all those things fit together in My Plans.
But there's something I have to attend to first. A couple weeks before the Chupacabra trail run, the sole of my foot began to ache, right in front of the heel. There was no visible swelling, just a feeling like my foot was bruised. I'd needed new shoes for a while, so I got them. They helped, but the ache was still there, mostly first thing in the morning or if I wore sandals all day. I suspected plantar fasciitis.
I ran the trail run, did well, and felt no pain. But I made myself take 10 days off running afterward to rest my foot. I rolled cold beer bottles under the foot (which I recommend, by the way, even if you aren't in pain - amazing!). Then, Tuesday, I did an easy-peasy 2-miler to get back into things. My foot was all, "Heyyyy, what's going on?" as soon as I put my running shoes on, but I ignored it and ran.
Then, in the September RW, I read an article about an Olympic hopeful who ignored her plantar fasciitis and ended up having to take off a year from running.
A YEAR?!
Okay, granted, I'm not training that hard, but it brought me up short. It also brought back memories of all the times I've ignored instinct and body clues, and done something reckless, only to look back and wonder how I could be such a nitwit.
So. How to not be a nitwit? For now, I think I'll hold off running this month. It won't be hard -- it's roughly a bajillion degrees here right now. I'll continue the cold-beer-bottle therapy, and try some foot exercises and stretches. I'll still stand at work, and walk every day, but no running during August.
Come September?
(Lean in close, so the Universe can't hear...)
I still want to run the RnRSA Half, and do it sub-2, and use my sweet, girly little Garmin to get there. To follow RW's sub-2 plan, I'll need to start September 6. If my foot feels good by then... I'm going for it.
Do you hear giggling?
4 ate pie:
Good luck and I hope you have a quick recovery! I pushed myself to run again after breaking my ankle/ripping a pie load of ligaments in December. Guess what? My "good" ankle got mad and gave out, tearing up the cartilidge along the way. Guess who now needs surgery on both ankles? I'm just not able to use a rower and elliptical without pain. Listen to your body. You will thankful later.
Oops, that should've been "just now able to use a rower and elliptical without pain." *swats internal editor*
Ohh plans...nice try :) Do you get to drink the cold beer after the treatment?
Sarah B - Yike! Good luck with your recovery. I'll heed your advice.
Sarah MG - Nah, I rotate 2 bottles because they warm up. But it's Bud Light Lime, which tastes like it has Fruit Loops in it, so no loss. :D
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