Last time I blogged I shared my sports massage therapy experience. Since then, I've been able to do forward bends (touch my toes) in one smooth motion for the first time in MONTHS. I still have some tightness but it's much improved. I'm hopeful that one more appointment will finish obliterating the knot.
My update today is less positive. There have been moments of panic, actually, followed by some self-coaching and trying to be calm and logical. Here's what happened.
Friday I had a 7 mile easy run. When I got back I was limping because my big toe on my right foot hurt kind of a lot. There was a small bruise and a tiny bit of swelling. I iced my butt knot (new to JoannaRuns? See the last post explaining this) but not the toe, not thinking all that much of it at first. When Saturday morning rolled around and I was gearing up for my 18 miler, it was still tender. I called RunningFirst (aka Coach Mike, "a walk in the park 4:45") to ask what I should do. He advised running around the block to see if that made it worse. We eventually compromised on a 1.5 mile loop through the adjoining neighborhood to see what happened. When I got back I took off my shoe and walked around for a few minutes. Texted him: No worse. Going out for another 6.5 and will reevaluate." He texted back to take it S-L-O-W and easy.
After the next 6.5 miles (about 8 total) it hurt. It hurt to the touch and hurt to walk on. Without my shoes, I was limping. So I decided to cut my 18-miler short at 8 miles and call it a day. Which kind of broke my heart.
But I have an admission: it also kind of didn't break my heart. I've known for a week or two that I'm on the edge of over-training...for me. By the start of last week I was starting to dread the really hard runs. I still appreciated them after the fact and was glad I could do them, but I craved a break, too. After the forced reduction yesterday and a rest day today, I'm chomping at the bit to get back out there.
But I can't. I was still limping around all day today. It hurts less as the day goes by, but I don't know how long it will take before I can run without re-injuring it. I don't even know what I did to it in the first place. And let me be clear: I am running Martian to PR it. I need to be ready to race in two weeks. So I'm going to do something I don't think I've ever done: an XT Extravaganza (as The Redhead calls it). Hopefully by week's end the foot will be back in business and I can get in one last quality long run before the race. I really hope so. I ordered pace bands and everything.
2 weeks until Martian Half
8 weeks until Cleveland
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5 comments:
That little piggy cried, "Ouch, ouch, ouch!" all the way home. (Sorry, couldn't resist!)
Hope you feel better so you can rock Martian!
Xtrain Xtravaganza will help keep your cardio in check and if you can manage it, do as many miles as you had on your plan. Test out the toe Wed/Thu-ish and just expect to feel slow and achy at first.
I'm SO sorry you are dealing with this now, usually misery loves company but in this instance I'd rather no one else join me. Feel better girl!!!!
Glad you listened to your body (and me) and quit running. The PR you can do. The extra cut of time might be hard depending on TOE.
I have a 5k race (remember those) on Saturday with the Penguin. I hope to break.... (;-)
Just like Morgan said and my running coach said to add 10%. So say a your running milage that would take you 60 min, you would add 6 more minutes to your w/o. I really hope you get feeling better!!!!!
I hope you feel better soon so you can reach your goals.
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