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October 28, 2005
Where to go From Here?
Another day off work. Another night of 8 hours of sleep! It's almost too good to be true. :)
I took today as another off day for the week (in terms of exercise). I didn't want to run because I ran yesterday and I want to run Saturday and Sunday. I thought running 4 days in a row would be too much. And since I'm not working today, I'm 40 minutes from the gym. Driving 80 minutes round trip to do the elliptical for 40 minutes doesn't make much sense to me.
So instead, when I got up, Roxy and I went on a long walk. This is almost like running because she pulls so hard on the leash I have to walk/jog to keep up with her. We explored some in a cluster of streets that we hadn't been through which is always a nice way to find more running routes. I don't like exploring that much when I'm actually running, but if I'm just walking, I don't mind.
I did do my foot exercises and iced and massaged. I actually had an appointment with the podiatrist today but as I was stretching this morning I realized that it doesn't make much sense to go back to the doctor if my feet aren't hurting right now. I called the office and asked if I should indeed come in if things were going okay and they confimed that no coming in now doesn't make much sense, and that I should just call again if my feet start bothering me. It saved me 90 minutes of driving (round trip) and another co-pay, so I'm happy. I knew he wasn't going to say much or do much when my feet were still feeling good.
Regardless, all this foot talk got me wondering what exactly I'm doing right now. I couldn't really come up with an answer. My feet feel good but I just got the cortisone shots only about 17 days ago. I don't think I'll feel "safe" until I'm 4-6 weeks out from the shots. Last time I got a cortisone shot in the one foot, it started to hurt again about 5 weeks later.
For the past couple weeks I've been running 3 days/week, cross training 2-3 days and taking 1-2 days off. I kind of feel like this is what I'm going to be doing for a while. I don't want to have to do this, but at the same time, it keeps me much happier than if I wasn't able to run at all. I think I decided I would continue to do this for at least another 2-3 weeks and then if at that time my feet still don't hurt, I may try to slowly increase to 4 or 5 days/week of running and go from there. I don't really have a plan for if they do start hurting again. Most likely because I really don't want to think about that (despite the fact that it could very well happen).
Back when this all started I was thinking that it would clear up in 2-3 months like most of my injuries and then I could start training for a spring marathon. I'm feeling much less optimistic now, as in, even if I can start running more, my feet aren't going to be willing to withstand marathon training. On the other hand, training for shorter, faster races is probably a worse idea considering that would require faster workouts, something that I know will aggrevate my plantar fasciitis. Hmmm...what to do?! I guess the answer is - just wait and see. Wait and see how they feel in 3-4 weeks. Increase if I can. Start over again if I can't. If I can increase, hang there for a while and see how things progress. Perhaps a spring marathon isn't totally out of the question. Perhaps it is. Until then, I'm going to try to enjoy any running that I can do, and stay in at least some semblance of shape with some cross training and weights. (although at times I think sitting on the couch sounds like so much more fun!) I think it sounds like a plan!
Posted by beth at October 28, 2005 1:26 PM
Comments
Your plight sounds familiar. I have had a chronic hamstring injury for quite awhile. At first I thought the same thing as you, rest and it will go away. But that has not been the case, every time I build up to marathon training it flares up. So my answer, I simple do not do marathons anymore, my compromise is 1/2 marathons. In fact, I am doing one this Sunday. It seems to be working for me. Good luck!
Posted by: Dawn at October 28, 2005 4:37 PM