Injured Reserves

It's been almost three weeks, which feels like an eternity right now. Three weeks since I have slipped away from my family to meet my friends for an early morning retreat. Three weeks since I have laced up my shoes and pounded the pavement. Three weeks since I have felt well enough to even think about running, or being able to tie my shoes without crying. Three weeks since I have deferred for my sixth marathon.

I never thought that I would have to defer a marathon due to an injury. Never. In 2005, I deferred an entrance to the New York City marathon because we were expecting our first child. What a fantastic reason to defer the NYC marathon, right??? I certainly think so. I have so many friends who have had to defer marathons and step away from running for a bit. I wish that I would have been more supportive of those friends. I wish I would have called them more, just to check in. Because it's a cruddy feeling to defer, to give in before you've even started.

I had to, though. I couldn't tie my shoes. I could hardly put my running shorts on in the morning without being brought to tears. My body was messed up, to say the least. So, three weeks later of doing hardly anything, I'm better. I can tie my shoes and get dressed and roll over in bed without crying. That's good news. I have a slight hamstring twinge that scares me a bit, it's a reminder that the injury is not gone.

Nonetheless, I think I might *try* to run two miles tomorrow. Slowly. Because it's been three weeks and I miss running so much. ♥

On Track...

I knew the second that I joined that gym I would feel guilty for not going every single day of the week. Which is ridiculous, because who has the time or energy to exercise every single day of the week? Call me lazy, but I've had a tough time getting over there this week. I keep telling myself that once we're sleeping through the night, once the baby's teeth finally pop through, once I stop nursing I'll have more energy; then I'll be able to exercise everyday! The truth is, I'm not as tough as many of my running friends. I easily talk myself out of getting up early every single morning. : ) I have yet to get over to the center this week, but I'm going to tomorrow-and the rest of the week-I promise myself! We'll see about that....

Even though I had to take a little bit of time off of running, I'm still on track for the marathon in October! Hurray! This week is an "easy" week of training: 3, 4, 3, and 5. No problem! So far I've gotten two four milers, or so. I missed a day last week, so I figured I could make up for the missed three miler this week. My foot still hurts when I run, but the pain is not as intense and it is not sharp. The weather has been absolutely fabulous for running outside! Absolutely fabulous. This morning the air was crisp and I felt very strong on my short, little run.

Other running related news:

Please check out this awesome site (So Sporty!) , which is for running clothes that are actually MADE in the USA!!!!!! Wow-- that never happens anymore, does it??? Check it out, the tops are adorable. I have two- which were given to me as birthday presents. TJ Maxx also sells these tops in their "active" section. Check it out!! Click on either link to check out the merchandise!! : )

The Night Splint

Two nights with the splint, and WoW!, I feel like I'm cured. Not really, my heel still hurts a little, but it's NOTHING like how I felt a month ago. It doesn't hurt to walk in the morning, after I take off the boot. Whereas, my foot has hurt terribly EVERY SINGLE MORNING for the past six weeks early in the morning. I had to walk around on my tip toes because my heel hurt so badly, which is a classic sign of plantar fasciitis.

Thankfully, I've been able to kinda follow the marathon training program. This time around, I'm sticking with the Hal Higdon Novice One Program. It just works for me. I never get hurt following this plan, it makes you rest (because you should!), and my times are always faster when I follow this one. Some marathoners don't like the low mileage in the beginning, but I've found that the lower miles in the beginning keep me from getting burnt out in the end- which is so easy to do. This week the plan called for 3, 3, 3, and 6 miles. Tomorrow I am going to work on the six miler. I think my foot (heel) will be able to hang, and if it doesn't I'll stop and walk to the nearest pay phone to call for a ride home.

Maybe a report on the six miler tomorrow?

Time to get started!

I haven't run in about three weeks, aside from that one slow mile on the treadmill last week. It's been awhile!! Marathon training starts this week, so I'm hoping to get back out there this week or next. I figure that I will be okay if I miss the first few weeks of training, even though I really don't want to go that route. This week the mileage is totally do-able, but since I've got this bum heel it might be kinda tough. The miles for this week are 3, 3, 3, and 6- no problem!

The whole gym thing is awesome. I have completely fallen in love with swimming again. I feel strong all over when I am finished my work-outs, which is great. Last week I thought I was going to drown, it's been that long since I've been in the water. It is amazing how quickly it all comes back, though. This morning I managed to get in a little over a mile (2000 Meters). Tomorrow I'm going to shoot for 2400 meters and then hopefully next week get up to 2 miles.

Josh has been awesomely supportive throughout this whole injury debacle, which makes me so grateful. He pushes me to get out the door to swim and doesn't make me feel guilty at all for leaving the house for a few hours in the morning. He's a pretty great guy. ♥♥♥♥

So, this week includes a little running and a check-in with the orthopedic surgeon on Wednesday. I am hoping that all goes well!! ✽✽✽✽

The heel is healing!!

Yesterday my heel did not hurt at all, unless I poked on the heel spur to check for tenderness. And, this morning? It didn't hurt when I wore heels to church! Hurray! I won't have to wear sneakers with heel cups for the rest of my life!! How awesome!!

Last week, I think it was Thursday, I felt so discouraged about my injury. I walked with my running partner and my heel hurt. I walked around the house in my running shoes and my heel continued to hurt with each step. The thought of not being able to run in the Marine Corps Marathon this fall crossed my mind. In fact, I was beginning to think about trying to unload my number.

Throughout this whole injury, I have not iced my foot once. That's like the number one thing you're supposed to do when you're injured. That, and stretch, and take Ibuprofen, I have done none of these since the heel issue began! Seriously-- who has time for all of that stuff, I thought. You know what, though? I realized that the ice REALLY helps! And, so does the stretching! I have yet to try the Ibuprofen with each meal because of nursing. It definitely seems like what I am doing right now is really helping, though.

So! Tomorrow I might get out there and run around the block before walking or I might just give myself a full two weeks off and run on Wednesday. We'll see how the day progresses.

For the first time ever...

I'm joining a gym today.  Uggh.  I've always taken pride in my "free" sport, and enjoying the great outdoors.  It's only for a little while, I keep telling myself.  It turns out that I have a Calcaneal Heel Spur, which hurts like a son-of-a-gun! It's almost been a week since I have run, and it looks like I will have another week to go.  The PA gave me these fancy little heel cups to ease the pain and tension in my heel. They are heavenly little things.  The downside is that I am wearing sneakers all the time.  The pain is definitely less, though, and that's more important than anything right now.  

So, tomorrow cross training starts!  I picked up a pair of goggles yesterday and I'm going to pull out my lap swimming suit tonight.  I sure hope I don't regret spending the money on this gym.  If anything, I think I'll get up and go just because of having to pay monthly.  Time will tell...

Running Skirts and Heel Pain

Well!  The week and a half has not helped my heel very much, which is completely annoying.  I think I am going to either go see a body work specialist or see an athletic trainer.  Part of me is leaning towards the body work specialist, simply because I know what the trainer is going to say.  The best treatment for plantar faciitis is rest, rest, rest, stretching, stretching, and ice, ice, ice.  Blah. If I go to the body work guy, he may take the pain away and really help me to stretch those foot muscles.  We'll see.  Maybe I'll do both?  Now that summer is almost here, I want to be running more and limping less!  

On to running skirts!  OMG!!  I LOVE running skirts!  A few years ago, when I started this blog running skirts were just coming onto the scene, so there weren't many styles.  Fast forward a few years and now they are all over the place!  Yesterday I picked up two, one was only 5.99 (can't beat the Ross clearance racks!) and the other one was 9.99 (again!  clearance!  love it!).  They are so fun and cute!  I have all sorts of brands- Brooks, Nike, Target, and Wilson.  Right now my favorite brand for the running skirt is Brooks, but they are very pricey.  

If I could only get this heel turned around, then I'd be able to sport them a little bit more often!!  Stay tuned...