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December 20, 2005
Rut Row, Batman.
My foot hurts. There, I've said it. I don't know how it can hurt because it's not like I've actually been running or anything. It all happened very quickly the other day while running 11 miles. The only thing I did different for this run was staying up in the hills and the higher elevation. For longer runs, I've historically (well, since I've moved to Yellowstone) gone down to about 5000 feet elevation and where the hills aren't quite as big and bad.
Argh. That sucks.
Here's the deal (Anyone able to interpret this one?): It's a pain in my right foot, the third toe, roughly where the toe dissappears into the rest of the foot. I can make it hurt when I curl my toes under or when I press on the fleshy bottom area of the foot just past where the toe comes in. It doesn't hurt to flex my toes. It almost feels like that sore feeling you get when you've walked too much in high heels. Or even if you've stepped hard on a rock while barefoot.
Oh well, so I'm 2 days this week with no running so far and marked improvement at the moment is minimal. Yesterday I biked on the indoor trainer for an hour. Today I cross country skiied for a few hours. In both efforts, I could feel my foot, but it didn't necessarily hurt. Much better than trying to run.
On the happy side of things, it was a balmy 25 degrees while we were skiing today. We took a route up a snow covered road several miles and then took another smaller road back downhill a couple miles. I don't quite know how long the loop was but it took about 2 hours. The uphill was a decent workout, however, I'm surprised at how hard you have to push to encounter an equitable effort to running. I always thought that cross country skiing was going to be more challenging than running. The downhill was pretty interesting! I stayed upright the whole time, which is more than I can say for my cohort in crime! It's been a bit of a challenge trying to learn how to turn on cross country skiis. A whole different skiing animal. Plus, this road was skinny enough that turning was nearly impossible. Thus, I spent much of the downhill mastering the cross country snowplow, which is reminiscent though pretty different from downhill skiing snowplowing. It was fun nonetheless.
We spooked a heard of elk when we came into a clearing at one point this afternoon. Though I felt bad when we shocked them into full trots, they looked absolutely beautiful and graceful, kicking up glittery snow as they ran. My dog liked that one, and she really wished she could chase them!
I also plan to spin on the bike trainer tonight. I want to do the time trial DVD (1 hour), and another hour of easy spinning afterwards. This not running by mandate business (as opposed to the not running my choice stuff) has got me feeling a bit cooped up. Hopefully another good workout will leave me feeling mo' betta'. Argh.
Posted by Meghan at December 20, 2005 7:35 PM
Comments
just an idea but i thought it might be this b/c of what you wrote about it feeling like you stepped on a rock:
Metatarsalgia
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/metatarsalgia/DS00496/DSECTION=2
Posted by: Audrey at December 20, 2005 8:51 PM
Maybe also look in to neuromas?
Posted by: pjm at December 20, 2005 8:59 PM
Could be anything, probably. I always think stress fracture (because I'm a worst-case scenario type of person, I don't think that's what you have, but that's always how I think when it comes to my own injuries!). Tendinitis seems to be a common foot injury diagnosis, or it could have something to do with those floating bones in your feet (sesamoids?). Hopefully it's something that goes away with a little more rest. And hopefully, because you haven't been running that much, it's something that was caused by something else and therefore will go away if you stop doing that something else.
Regardless of what it is, I hope it goes away soon. I can't believe how much spinning time you were planning to spend on the bike. Wow.
Good luck.
Posted by: Alison at December 21, 2005 8:41 AM
I can't really add anything to the above ideas. It sounds very similar to what I had a few weeks ago. (Except I don't know the feeling of too much time in heels) I never did figure out what I had. I was worried about a stress fracture. Fortunately the pain went away without me taking time off, but I would never suggest this stupid approach. Good luck with the healing process.
Posted by: Dallen at December 21, 2005 8:22 PM
When I had a stress fracture in my foot, the other option the doctor suggested was 'metatarsalitis' I believe. Which is basically like tendinitis of the metatarsals. However I have no idea. I hope it's not a stress fracture!
I had no idea that you're from Minnesota. That is where my boyfriend Matt is from and he keeps trying to get me to go there in the dead of winter. I hope it's not too cold while you're there, happy holidays!
Posted by: Barb at December 22, 2005 8:34 AM
I have metatarsalitis. How long does it typically take to heal?
Posted by: ray carroll at January 25, 2007 2:56 PM