I am pretty sure I am not alone when I say I am stubborn in terms of working out in some sort of pain. I do it basically every time. Some days are worse than others, but I have very few where something doesn’t hurt in a weird way. I basically have gotten used to it. I have been to the doctor a bazillion times, each time for them to basically say the same thing, “Well, if it hurts, don’t do it.” If I followed that rule I would be out of shape. I hate admitting something hurts; I would rather just be tough about it. I have terrible knees that grind and pop and have deterioration of cartilage much more than someone my age should have and arthritis in both. The knee doctor said my IT band was too tight and that he should not be able to see it and he can. This is partially to blame for why my knee doesn’t stay in socket. Recently I have some pain across my lower stomach from running so many miles and being so tight. See… Stubborn – I don’t really stop doing anything.
The problem is I think most of the aforementioned problems have resulted in this current one that I can’t make go away. One week before White Rock I ran a super easy 6.2 mile run, symbolic, yea probably, and I was nervous about the race so I wanted to run something. My foot was sore but not in pain. I ran 3 miles on the treadmill that Tuesday and have essentially been in foot pain ever since. The Thursday before the race I was seriously wondering if I could run it, I told Beth that day that it was bothering me but I really didn’t say much. Saying it out loud would be admitting that something was more seriously wrong.
I ran the marathon, obviously, but have not run since. We are basically two weeks out from the marathon and I haven’t so much as run a ¼ mile. Something is wrong. My friend Cynthia had foot pain so bad she ended up having surgery. She went to so many doctors and eventually ended up in surgery that really didn’t completely work. She has been lecturing me since I told her my foot hurt. I think it is time to not be stubborn because now I am just scared. Everything else has seemed manageable, but not this.
I ran across a blog post from The Trail Jogger the other day and I am going to share with you kind of what it says BUT shockingly enough I have to STOP BEING STUBBORN. You can read the full post here but here is the condensed version.
1. Stop Running: easier said than done, when it stops hurting start running with low mileage.
2. Ice: This bores me and I hate it but isn’t that rule number one when something is hurt?
3. Roll it: Use a tennis ball or golf ball and role the arch
4. Stretch: especially the calf muscles – apparently all of that stuff is connected
5. Hang your feet off the end of the bed when you sleep:– this is the easiest one! I’m 5’10”- apparently it helps in the morning when it hurts the worst
6. Support it:– Wear shoes all the time (this one is hard for me. I HATE shoes!)
As far as everything else goes- I am foam rolling everything, stretching and going to yoga to strengthen and stretch, and using the “Stick” whenever I can. Beth has had on and off hip flexor pain that she says has been so much better since yoga, so I am tagging along in that. We both attend Sunstone Yoga.
source
Here are some pics of the recovery process! This really is progress for me in terms of not ignoring something!
icing at home
rolling at work
Thank you to Emily for passing along the Ozarka bottle tip!
Yesterday we showed you our December running plan – I have essentially done none of it. This makes me SO nervous because I don’t want to lose endurance! That crap is hard to build. I hope to be able to run the New Year’s Double. My heart and mind say run the race- “How cool is this race, and the medal and the people,” but my body is like- “Really Teal, Why do you hate me?” I am torn and nervous. Essentially I know I will make it! I ran 26 miles on it already. I know it will work for 26 more especially split into 2 days (see the crazy rationalization) but how long do I want it to hurt, and how do you really stop being stubborn?
Beth hasn’t exactly been following the plan either. She keeps herself pretty busy too and now that the goal of a new unknown distance isn’t looming over her head she’s been enjoying some down time. She’s still pretty much making it to yoga, Johnny’s or the gym every day with a rest day or two thrown in the mix.
I can pretty much guarantee that you will see BOTH of us at the race! I’ll run regardless, even if it is slow and terrible, BUT perhaps admitting stubbornness is the first step to solving it?
Do you have any additional advice on treating Plantar Facsiitis?
I’ve dealt with those heel and foot issues. Stretching – both first thing in the morning and before and after a run – works for me. Also rest when it flares up.
Thanks, Tom! Being a WAY better stretcher than I have most of the year!
Plantar fasciitis is what sidelined me in 2005, and volunteering while injured ultimately led me to race directing and now here I am putting on the New Years Double. So, weird coincidence. One big thing for PF you don’t always see posted… do some ankle flexion, ankle rolling before jumping out of bed in the morning. Taking a tight plantar muscle and then putting all your weight onto it suddenly and walking can cause some microtears that you repeat every single day. This helps me tremendously. Do the same any time you’ve been sitting for a while. I missed what Emily’s Ozarka bottle tip was, but I do that bottle style frozen and roll it under my arch and whole foot, especially the arch. The contour within the Ozarka bottle is perfect for getting the whole foot.
Ohhh so that’s how you got started race directing! We wondered about that – you are fabulous at it! Thank you for all your suggestions and the water bottle tip is EXACTLY what you described!
Oh no, hope it heals quickly! I know that stubborn feeling. I hate slowing down.
I had never heard about the feet hanging off the bed trick. I’ve slept like that for years without knowing it was doing me any good. I just thought I was weird! haha 😀
Best of luck with the foot. GO YOU for taking the right steps and not just ignoring it!
No way you aren’t weird about the feet hanging off the side of the bed! Beth does it too! You are speedy mcspeederton so I am sure you hate having to slow down! Thanks, Courtney!
I totally understand you! Running is so addictive! I may need serious counseling if I need to ever let go of it!
All of that is so true! I haven’t been stretching the way I need to for my feet and calves. But it helps! U can run that race, I know it! Hang in there! Your body and mind will thank you after it is over.
I am a stubborn runner too! And just stubborn in general! 😉 I had the knee issue right before I ran #RnRLV. I was told by my doc that my knee was coming out of its socket because my outer thighs are stronger than my inner. I’ve been doing inner thigh exercises and my knee issue is gone.
I seriously wonder that too! My inner thighs are not that strong and they rub together haha! i need to start on that pronto! Thanks Betsy
I’m like you, I hate to admit it, I hate to stop. It’s stressful, frustrating, all that stuff.
Hope your foot is feeling better soon.
Yes! stopping is so frustrating! My foot is feeling better! I am going to give it another few days until I actually run! Still scared, I do not want this crap to come back! Thanks lady!
In 1980, I was 22, athletic, and I ignored pain after a knee injury. When it seemed healed, I ignored the doctor’s advise.
Now, I can barely walk. You choose.