With the orthotics in place and feeling good (for the most part), I'm going to take my first running steps this weekend. It'll be slow and short; the plan is to do three sets of five minutes of walking, five of running back to back. I'm nervous to start back given that every other time I've started up, I've had to stop again. But with a solid two months of no running under my belt and a plan to get back reeeeeally slowly, this time will hopefully be different.
The ultimate goal is to get back for a few fall 5Ks, the first of which falls on the first weekend in October. I don't plan to run any PRs this fall but do hope to get to a point where running is comfortable and painless again; where races aren't disappointing but fun. Hopefully by getting back into it slowly, I'll set myself up for a solid race season in 2010.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Saturday, August 1, 2009
The Saga Continues... An Update
Well, I still haven't run. This, I'm pretty sure, marks the longest break from running since I broke my foot my Sophomore year of college.
At the beginning of July, I saw an orthopedist about my foot. He diagnosed me with "peroneal tendon dysfunction" AKA "I-have-no-idea-whats-wrong-with-you-but-know-the-problem-has-something-to-do-with-that-tendon". I was prescribed PT, orthotics, and Ibproufen; no surprise.
I have since finished PT where I got rid of some scar tissue. My foot feels better, but whether or not that's as a result of PT or just a prolonged absence from running I think is still undecided.
I have been fit for orthotics and will pick them up a week from Monday. I'm hoping they help but am weary. The onset of this whole issue was seemingly sudden leading me to believe that there's an element to the problem that's more than just a biomechanical issue that has built up over time.
Both the guy who's making my orthotics and the physical therapist noted that my calves were unnaturally tight and that this may be the root of the whole problem. I would have to agree, which is super frustrating because that is EXACTLY what the guy I saw back in March said. I thought I was stretching enough but the flexibility tests suggest otherwise. This is where the orthotics will come in; by adjusting the way I run, it is hoped that the pressure will be taken off my lower legs.
As expected, this whole fiasco has altered my running plan. Things aren't looking good for the Seacoast half because I just don't think I have the time to get my mileage up. I already missed one race I paid for, the York Days 5K on July 26th, and will likely have to miss another, the Fox Point 5-miler in September, for the same mileage-build-up concerns that I have for the half. This is a bummer because I was really looking forward to this races. Racing's kind of why I want to keep running and it just sucks to have the taken away for who knows how long.
The plan for now is to start running again a week-ish after getting my orthotics. By that point it will have almost been a full 2 months of not running so coming back slowly is the key. I'll probably start with some run-walk workouts on the track and then go up from there. The good thing is that I have been somewhat good about getting into the gym or pool so hopefully the comeback will be easier and quicker than it might have been had I done nothing.
I'm also trying to get into Weight Watchers to start the weight loss which, while I've been told otherwise, I believe has had a role in this whole thing. I think I was running too hard for where I was fitness-wise and just had gotten to a point where my body wasn't able to recover fast enough. I have gained weight and loss a significant amount of fitness and should've been more conscious of this last year. Instead, I focused too much on the watch and the distance leading me to where I'm at today. I really hope this next round I can be better about really listening to my body and being less concerned with speed and distance.
Bring on the great return to running part 2.
At the beginning of July, I saw an orthopedist about my foot. He diagnosed me with "peroneal tendon dysfunction" AKA "I-have-no-idea-whats-wrong-with-you-but-know-the-problem-has-something-to-do-with-that-tendon". I was prescribed PT, orthotics, and Ibproufen; no surprise.
I have since finished PT where I got rid of some scar tissue. My foot feels better, but whether or not that's as a result of PT or just a prolonged absence from running I think is still undecided.
I have been fit for orthotics and will pick them up a week from Monday. I'm hoping they help but am weary. The onset of this whole issue was seemingly sudden leading me to believe that there's an element to the problem that's more than just a biomechanical issue that has built up over time.
Both the guy who's making my orthotics and the physical therapist noted that my calves were unnaturally tight and that this may be the root of the whole problem. I would have to agree, which is super frustrating because that is EXACTLY what the guy I saw back in March said. I thought I was stretching enough but the flexibility tests suggest otherwise. This is where the orthotics will come in; by adjusting the way I run, it is hoped that the pressure will be taken off my lower legs.
As expected, this whole fiasco has altered my running plan. Things aren't looking good for the Seacoast half because I just don't think I have the time to get my mileage up. I already missed one race I paid for, the York Days 5K on July 26th, and will likely have to miss another, the Fox Point 5-miler in September, for the same mileage-build-up concerns that I have for the half. This is a bummer because I was really looking forward to this races. Racing's kind of why I want to keep running and it just sucks to have the taken away for who knows how long.
The plan for now is to start running again a week-ish after getting my orthotics. By that point it will have almost been a full 2 months of not running so coming back slowly is the key. I'll probably start with some run-walk workouts on the track and then go up from there. The good thing is that I have been somewhat good about getting into the gym or pool so hopefully the comeback will be easier and quicker than it might have been had I done nothing.
I'm also trying to get into Weight Watchers to start the weight loss which, while I've been told otherwise, I believe has had a role in this whole thing. I think I was running too hard for where I was fitness-wise and just had gotten to a point where my body wasn't able to recover fast enough. I have gained weight and loss a significant amount of fitness and should've been more conscious of this last year. Instead, I focused too much on the watch and the distance leading me to where I'm at today. I really hope this next round I can be better about really listening to my body and being less concerned with speed and distance.
Bring on the great return to running part 2.
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