Stress Fracture - and disappointment

My last run was on Feb 10, 2012. I was planning on the customary 7.6 miler. I got to about the 2 mile point - just before the Community Boating House on the Charles and my left ankle really didn't feel right. Though not a severe pain - it had an instinctive 'bad feel' to it - as if some real damage was being done. I scrapped the rest of the run and headed up to Planet Fitness - about another mile away. When I got there I worked on the eliptical trainer. However, my left leg shin area felt very sore after. I also jogged back. The next day I didn't run at all and just went to the gym. The lower leg was quite sore. At the gym I stayed off of the eliptical trainer and stuck with upper body work - using Nautilus and weights. However I noticed one machine - a fateful choice - that allowed one to exercise their calves. I went at it quite vigorously but I think this caused the most damage of the weekend. Afterwards, later that evening I could hardly walk.

New Compadres

 On Monday I was limping badly and got to see Dr. Smith. He didn't send me to a sports doctor right away, but wanted me to give the physical therapy a shot. I went to the Harmeling center on Thursday. Tom tried to diagnose it as best as he could and did some ultra sound - some massage - - and some heated water pressure treatment. - some electrical stimulation with an ice pack. After all that, for most of the day I was seriously hurting - it really ached. I had to walk extremely slowly and limp. Sometimes after resting things felt fine after I got up to walk - I'd walk down the hallway - thinking I was all set only for it to suddenly starting hurting real bad - and I was back to a total limp. Friday was the worst. I was at the Costa's conference and was going back to my car at 8:30 pm. I felt fine and was walking at a decent pace - normal it seemed. Suddenly the pain shot through my left leg - I was stopped in my tracks. I couldn't even walk limping. I just stood there for a while and ever so slowly moved forward -doing my utmost to stay off of my left foot. If only I had a cane or crutch right now I thought. Just as I got to my car I hopped the last 10 yards or so on my right foot it was that bad. I was heading back to Boston - and just as I got to close to Route 1 South, I decided to go back north to GCTS - Florina had brought in a set of crutches for me and Security put them in my office. I drove up there to get these - I was at the point where I didn't want to get stuck again. Today is Saturday and the foot has felt fine. However, I haven't been out walking at all. I'm about to do so and we'll see!

This is a huge setback for running. Today it is 47 and sunny - perhaps my complete favorite conditions for a run. Overall, I'm going to have to work through this disappointment. However, I am also not giving up and my dreams of more long distance running. I hope to be able to restart someday. Right now I have a scheduled appointment with an orthopaedic surgeon on Wednesday. My goal at this point is to get an accurate diagnosis. I personally believe it is a stress fracture - mainly because of the increasing pain all week though I stayed off of it pretty much completely. Also, how it hurt so much after PT and then how I seemed to be walking fine yesterday only to have my left lower leg be riveted suddenly with quite intense pain that made even limping almost unbearable. Getting an accurate diagnosis is my first goal and then getting on the best possible treatment plan (and sticking to it) is my next one. To be continued :-)

Long run - no lock up

Today was a perfect day for a long run. 31 F, light wind, 6 SE, and sunny. I didn't take any watch and didn't look at what time it was exactly before I left. My goal was to do the 10.4 route (up to the Cambridge bridge and back) without my left ankle locking up. I figured a light jog - just to see if I could 10 and a half without locking up would be a milestone. Even with a light jog I found myself passing people a lot. Once I got to the Mass Ave bridge I heard a runner coming up on me from behind, so I sped up a bit - it's funny, I kept on increasing my pace bit by bit, until I was moving at as fast as a jog that I could really keep up at - and only for a couple of miles! The runner behind me also increased his pace. It was on the stretch beyond the BU boat house heading toward the Cambridge bridge that we were running beside each other. I said to him 'man, we're moving at a good pace!' - he said 'Yeah, I think the last mile was a 6:07'. I told him I was planning on doing an 8.5 - referring to pace - but he said he was planning on a twenty, so I realized he thoughts i was talking about distance and not pace. I let him move ahead. He turned around and gave me a fist pump. I always enjoy those kind of runners - they really help pace you for a bit. It was fun and he sure gave me a run for my money!

On the way back I did take it easy, and though I thought I felt a lock up coming on, nothing ever happened. I was very fortunate! I got home still running fine and no major pains or aches. I'm very grateful for today's good run.

Back on track

I just completed a 7.6 mile in 57 mins 48 secs (nets a 7:36 pace) Wow - I feel incredibly fortunate. I thought I was going to be out of commission for a couple of weeks what with last Sunday's injury. I can't help but feel that this was an answer to prayer too and that I got healed of whatever ailed me last week.

My splits were as follows - up to the Storrow drive bridge (1.5) 11:40, Mass Ave (3.2 mile) 24:22 - end point (3.8 mile) 28:52, Mass Ave 33:52, Storrow 46:22, Home 57:48.

I had good energy all the way. Particularly on the way back. I didn't push it at any point, at the same time though I wanted to go at an 8 min pace to avoid any injury it would have taken effort to slow down out of my natural pace, so I simply kept with that and it seems like I kept aroudn a 7:36 pace most of the time.