Monday I went for my longest post-accident run yet: six miles. My stamina was decent, and my pace was slightly faster than before the accident! My injured foot felt fine during the entire run.
The trouble started when I stopped running. Within fifteen minutes of finishing my run my right foot was on fire. This was the most pain I've felt since the accident. I had already been walking with a slight limp; now it had become very uncomfortable to walk. My first thought was that I had simply overdone it, and I needed a little extra rest and a more measured daily running regimen (shorter, more frequent running workouts).
As the week wore on it became obvious that the situation was worse than I thought. The ache in my foot didn't subside very much, even with no running. By the end of every work day the pain was pretty bad, though still not bad enough to resort to my prescription pain meds (I'm hesitant to take narcotics unless I'm in agony).
Yesterday there was a post on my Facebook page from a running shoe company regarding tendinitis of the foot. The symptoms described in the post (dull ache in the top of the foot that subsides during exercise) almost exactly described what I am feeling. The more grim news: treatment calls for NO RUNNING for "at least two weeks" and more likely for much longer. Damn, I just got started again. Okay, so it's time to make another recovery plan.
This morning I was chatting with a friend who is a doctor and an avid runner. She was aghast that I'd been running at all. Her recommendation: I shouldn't run for the rest of the year, and switch to other methods of metabolic training until the foot stops hurting. Damn.
Fortunately I have access to a lot of options. ADAPT Training has some machines I can use, including ellipticals, rowers, and Versaclimbers. I will also continue to take the regular ADAPT classes: integrated metabolic training on Mondays and Wednesdays, strength training on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and flexibility/mobility on Fridays. These classes are very scalable to one's physical challenges, much more so than any other exercise program I've ever seen. I'm also going to put in some miles on my bicycle while the weather is still good, and dig into swimming. Now is a great time for me to go take some swimming lessons and strengthen up my technique. Aside from that it's RICE: rest, ice, compression, and elevation.
I knew that recovering and resuming the life I love was gonna be a long haul. I knew that there would be challenges and setbacks. The important thing for me is to stay positive and stay busy. As long as I can keep moving around and keep smiling I will be fine. I am still very aware of how lucky I am, and still grateful for this dangerous opportunity to be a better person.
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