Wednesday, August 22, 2007

On the Injured List

Yep, I'm out for five days. My plans were to run six today, five tomorrow and ten Friday, then have three days off for CCC. Plans change though - on Sunday, running at Pt. Defiance, I did something to my foot. I'm not sure what - maybe my shoe was tied too tight? During the last couple miles it felt like I had a giant cramp at the top of my foot, sorta the front of the ankle area, bottom of the shin, right where the bow of the shoelace is. When I ran it cramped, when I walked it was fine. I finished out the run in the usual run/walk pattern, running through it. Felt fine when I was done, felt fine on Monday, though tender to the touch.

Tuesday was the Glorious and Infamous Hill Run + 2. I felt it a bit at the beginning, then it seemed fine. In the last half mile the cramp hit again - full force. (Remember Rob, when "education" came out "edumacation"? That was when it hit.) Finished the run, iced during breakfast, popped some vitamin I. By the end of the day it was swollen and bruised, but still, felt fine when walking. This morning I put on my shoes, retied the laces several times till I finally got it loose enough over the sore spot and went out for the morning run.

Things were so-so at the beginning and got progressively worse. At the point where it was cramping, and feeling like cold water was pouring over the injured area (very strange) I told Rick and Emily that I might have to skip Fridays ten-miler. A few minutes later I mentioned skipping tomorrow. A couple more minutes and I fessed up that I was going to have to turn off to home, cutting our run short. The six miler ended at 4.17.

I feel pretty confident that a few days of rest will help, and I think my training is going well enough that missing 15 miles won't hurt. Now, if I'm wrong and it's not improved by Tuesday, then...then things could get ugly! I'm going to continue the ice and ibuprofen, plus ditch the daily aspirin again for those five days. Somehow I picked up a nasty bruise on my forearm last week - no idea how - and it is healing very slowly, which reminded me of that whole aspirin thing - where the chiropractor said it was taking much longer than normal to heal my bruises due to the aspirin. That time, when I stopped taking it for a couple weeks, things started improving. I figure it is worth trying again.

I'm not that great at the rest thing. Usually, I find it difficult. This time though, it'll work out well - Friday and Monday are normal rest/Pilates days for me, and Saturday/Sunday were planned off for crewing. So in essence, I'm only missing tomorrow. The biggest problem will be controlling my appetite during the layoff - especially when hanging out all day and through the night. It's very tempting to eat constantly - especially during the night. And we didn't help with our trip to Red Robin tonight for dinner. I had my all-time favorite - french fries. I saved some calories by having a garden salad with them instead of a burger, but still. And the second basket probably didn't help, but I did share it with Eric and Riley. And I did exercise some self-control by not ordering onion rings too...

I'll get a crewing post up Sunday or Monday, and then let you know how Tuesday's run goes. Keep your fingers crossed!

21 comments:

Journey to a Centum said...

Geeze! Walk it off and get back out there and run some miles!

Tomorrow could be the break thru day you have been waiting for. Sub 10 baby!

OK, good idea to listen. Weird spot to be sore. I'm guessing it was tight laces but that's how my little tibia issue started out too. Should be a good break for you. You will be back at it next week strong and healed up.

~concrete angel~ said...

Oh no...sorry to hear about your injury! I've actually hurt the same place before and it didn't take too long to heal.

I'd try to think of the days off as training of sorts...it's rest that will help further training, and running on it will probably just make things worse (at least I tell myself these things in similar times and it works...not that well, but a little).

Have fun crewing...bet you're excited for that :)

JustRun said...

Smart, smart, Michelle. Nipping it in the bud, right?
I totatlly understand about the Red Robin fries, too. :)

Wes said...

Way to hold back on the onion rings! I've been eating like a horse :-) Healing vibes your way!!!!

Thomas said...

Poor you, get better soon - and stay off the junk food! That crap isn't helping.

Olga said...

Nothing that a little rest and Vit I can't heal. Be good.

Anne said...

You and me both! It sounds like a strange injury -- that whole running water sensation? -- but also something that can disappear with that rest. Good luck sitting still, though.

runliarun said...

So sorry, sounds like a nasty little weird injury. Ah, if we could only make these things go away just by mental effort.

I changed my shoes too by the way, the old ones had only 300 miles on them, but I wanted to be thorough, I forgot to mention it in that post.

E-Speed said...

uggh I hope you heal quickly! Injuries are no fun. Sounds like you are playing it smart though. I am sure a few days off is just the ticket.

Mama said...

Way to listen to your body. Isn't that what you teach your students in Pilates?

Be Free,
Lorri

psbowe said...

Oh no...I've been holding back and can't bring myself to say it outloud, but I'm on the list too. Probably should do a post about it too, but...

Wish you a quick heal!

Anonymous said...

This is Caroline, from Portland...one of the runners who benefited from your positive energy and efforts at the PCT 50 miler. I had pain in that same spot a few years ago. My ankle motion just didn't feel right either - stiff, creaky. I took a week off, but it just got worse. Finally went to a sports chiropractor who found that the ankle had compacted somewhat and when I ran soft tissue was getting pinched between bones that were too close together -- impingement, he called it. Anyway, he did an adjustment and the pain was gone and range of motion was back. He gave me ankle strengthening exercises and after about a week of exercises and one more adjustment, it was back to normal. Hopefully your injury is just something that will go a way for a few days rest, but if it doesn't, ask your chiropractor to take a look.

Good luck!

Anonymous said...

My fingers are crossed too.

adam said...

Sometimes I think that the resting part is the hardest part. Smart move. Take it easy and good luck.

Ironayla said...

Bummer to hear about your foot. I hope it heals up fast! :)

I hope all goes well for Eric this weekend! I will be thinking of you guys :)

Joe said...

You and your feet!! Oh my!!!

Hope it does not create a hassle for CCC!!

Sarah said...

I'm sorry about your foot! But at least it sounds like a good time to take a break. Best wishes that you'll be back running pain-free soon!

There must be something in the air because I think I broke one of my baby toes yesterday (stubbed really hard.) Fortunately walking or running doesn't seem to bother it.

Unknown said...

When did you sneak this post in? I must not have been watching bloglines very closely last night. I have to go read the other post now. So many so close together.

YaYa said...

I hope your foot is better.

Jack said...

Take it easy with your crewing and enjoy the weekend!

Darrell said...

Oh, no! I hope the foot is better coming out the other end of this weekend.

I'm going to save the other posts till later.