Taking a Break

As I've tried a bit of running the past couple of months, I've still felt a bit of discomfort around my heel. I could keep running a little here and there with the hopes of the heel gradually adapting. It might. Or, it might not. I may need surgery to fix the issue once and for all (assuming that does fix it). Then, I'm looking at several weeks on crutches, followed by several months of rehab. Currently, I can't wrap my brain around that, even though that may be the choice eventually.

So what am I doing in the meantime? Well, even though most of you know me as a runner, I've had multiple personalities (as it relates to fitness) for many years. I've shifted gears back to weight lifting. I'm actually enjoying it. As is both my strength and occasional downfall, I've thrown myself into it quite seriously (see photo below of me during Ragnar last July, compared with me now).

Dang, was I THAT scrawny?!

I gotta say, my wife likes hugging me without feeling like she's about to break me.

Don't be sad, fellow runners. I'm not done as a runner just yet. I've done this before. Gotten injured from running, backed off, switched my focus to strength training, got the hankering to run again, started over. It may not be the best approach to running, but with my injury history, it gives me a chance to work on something else I enjoy while not dwelling on something I can't do at the time.

Why not hit the bike or pool more? To be completely honest, my heart's just not into it. I'll do both to some degree, but as recreation rather than serious training. I have a love for the simplicity of running that I can't seem to replicate on the bike nor in the pool.

Of course, everything I've just said is subject to change. But these are my current feelings. Yes, I'm one fickle dude.

So, for now, I'm just a 'muscle-head.' I still hope to run a couple of 5k's with my daughter this year. It'll just be with a quirky heel, minimal training, and 25 additional lbs. on my frame!

Giving The Boot The Boot

I just returned from a visit to my sports medicine doc with the go-ahead to start transitioning out of the walking boot. Tomorrow I'll wear it 75% of my waking hours, the next day 50%, the next day 25%, then I'm done with it. I've also been given the okay to do some swimming and light (low gear) cycling (on the indoor trainer). While it's not running, at least I'll be able to remind myself what an increased heart rate feels like. I've enjoyed doing strength training, but I've been jonesing for an endorphin fix lately. Not sure I'll get that fix from light spinning and getting lapped by old ladies at the pool, but it's definitely better than nothing!

As I transition away from the boot, I'll be breaking in my orthotics, then will wear them pretty much full-time. I'll visit the doc again on January 1st. At that point, I'll start specific strengthening exercises for my foot (feet), then, at some point, gradually start running. It'll be a long, slow process, but I'm game.

Embrace the Change

I've been in a walking boot for nearly 3 weeks. It's also been 3 weeks since my last run of the year (the 2-mile fun run with my daughter), and 16 weeks since I've put in as much as 20 miles of running in a week. So, obviously, not a lot of running-related news coming from the Resurrected Runner camp at the moment (thus the infrequent posts and silly videos).

If you've been following my saga, you know how bummed I was when the injury forced me to stop running. It's not easy to have something you love, something that's a big part of your daily life, suddenly removed. There are both physical and psychological ramifications*.

Fortunately, since I've redirected my physical energies toward another venture, I've been able to bounce back. In fact, I'm actually enjoying the break from running as I get back into weight lifting. I won't go so far as to say I was burned out on running — because I wasn't — but I will say that I was starting to put a lot of pressure on myself to perform at a certain level, thereby making me frustrated when I'd run a disappointing race. I'm all for having time and distance goals, because I thrive on them, but when they create so much stress that something that should be enjoyable borders on being a job, or a chore, then it's time to re-evaluate. I was getting to that point, and the injury was exacerbating** the problem.

So...a switch has finally been flipped in my feeble mind that is allowing me to step back and look at my running — and overall fitness — a bit more objectively. I'm more at peace now, and even though I can't currently get my "aerobic fix", I'm enjoying the challenge of working on "getting my abs" and getting stronger. When the time comes when I can start running again, you can bet I'll be ready.

But until then, I'll definitely survive...and maybe even thrive. And you guys & gals can keep the roads and trails warm for me!


*winner of today's Victorious Vocabulary award
**ooh...double the award!

First Visit to the Sports Medicine Clinic

I just returned from my first visit to the Sports Medicine Clinic in Seattle. While more info will be forthcoming, I do have some preliminary info to share.

We discussed my recent running history. I told him how I trained for and ran my marathon back in May, then had my first run-in with the heel pain a couple of weeks later. Then came the 3 week layoff, then back into training (for Ragnar, primarily), then a six week layoff, then very minimal running the last 4-5 weeks.

He then observed my feet as I was standing (barefoot) and noticed that my offending foot pronates quite a bit. He then remarked at how tight my right calf and achilles are, and how that is likely affecting my foot movement during foot strike.

He then took xrays of my foot (unlike the PT I saw earlier this year). I don't have them to post here, unfortunately, but upon his diagnosis, he explained—and showed me— that I have a condition called Haglund's Deformity. There's a prominent growth on the top of my right heel that's causing irritation of my achilles tendon and, possibly, the bursa. While this may not be directly related to the pain I'm also feeling in other areas of my foot, it's certainly the genesis of this injury. The excessive pronation is likely the cause of at least the other pain, if not also this deformity issue. He also said something about a possible cyst there, although I wasn't totally clear about that. He said that surgery probably won't be needed. Oh — he also said that my six week layoff would have been enough time off if it was just tendonitis (not totally sure I agree), and that the recurring nature of the injury points to a structural problem (as the x-ray showed, and to which I do agree).

I asked him if he thought tinkering with my running form could have contributed to this and he confirmed that he has seen many runners who have been injured during that process. While agreeing that working to improving one's form isn't a bad thing, he said that our bodies do settle on a natural running form based on our biomechanics and structural issues (but again, no, he doesn't think over-striding and heel-striking are good). He did comment that I'm probably not a good candidate for Vibram Five Fingers, though.

He agreed that other contributing factors could be overuse and increased hill training (which really pushed it over the top back in August).

As you might suspect, he does recommend custom orthotics. While I've been averse to this idea before, now I say bring 'em on. Fortunately, he's not a fan of what he calls "bricks" (i.e. heavy, motion-control shoes, which I used to wear) and that I should be fine continuing to wear my neutral running shoes. I'll just have a bit more support to correct my overpronation in that foot.

The next step in the process will be an MRI to take a look at the soft tissues & tendons surrounding the heel (and ankle area) to see how inflamed they are. I'm awaiting a call from their office to schedule an appointment.

Thankfully (and as I suspected) there's no sign of any stress fractures. I just have a freakish heel bone and a wonky foot movement.

So that's all I know at this point. As you'd guess, I'm done running for the time being. After the MRI, we'll discuss cross-training options, and how long it might be until I start running again.

Not running is a major bummer, but I'm happy to be working with someone who (so far) I trust.

Doctor, It Hurts When I Do This

That's it. I can't keep doing this. Time to see a doctor & not only get this foot fixed, but figure out what the heck caused the injury and how to avoid it in the future.

I made an appointment with the Sports Medicine Clinic (Northgate area, north of Seattle) for next Tuesday. Dr. McInnes was recommended to me by a local triathlete friend of mine (who has also had her share of foot injuries lately). This doctor is an endurance athlete himself, and specializes in sports podiatry.

Aside from running a 2-mile fun run next month with my daughter, I'm assuming there's a good chance I may be shutting down my running program for the balance of this year. A lot of you guys & gals have helped me to come to grips with that decision, as hard as it is. If running just short distances three times a week still causes pain, what's the point in continuing? Even in asking that rhetorical question, it's a struggle to even give that up. But knowing that long-term damage could sideline me much longer is enough reason to do the right thing now.

I'll report back after my first visit.

Unshod Experiment

My lack of posts is disturbing (a bit of a Star Wars reference there)...

I wish I had more to post about. Work has been busy (a BIG plus), so any planned videos are on hold. Running is still challenging and (to be honest) frustrating. My foot is still a problem. Last Wednesday's 4x800 track workout, followed by two hard miles within Friday's 4-mile run angered my foot. I felt the repercussions all weekend. I skipped yesterday's run to give it more rest, then got on the treadmill today. I kept the run short (3 miles) and slow (9:24 pace). I focused on my turnover rate and foot strike, trying hard to land midfoot, if not a tad forefoot. Once I hit 2.75 miles, I stopped the treadmill, took off my shoes and socks, and ran the last quarter mile barefoot. I'm hoping that doing this once or twice per week will gradually strengthen the muscles and tendons in my feet. If it worsens the condition of my right foot, I'll stop.

Speaking of stopping, I may be doing that...again...depending on feedback I may soon be getting. The circumstances that kept me from seeing a new PT doctor a few weeks ago have changed, slightly, for the better, so I have the green light from the Mrs. (a.k.a. "she who must be obeyed") to seek out treatment. This time, it'll be from a doc who specializes in working with endurance athletes. I've received three recommendations from local running friends for the same doctor. He's not close, but if he can not only fix my owie, but figure out what caused it, then the drive(s) will be worth it.

I'd be lying if I said that I haven't been experiencing a mild form of depression lately. The change of seasons (here, it's been dark, cold, rainy & windy lately), coupled with my inability to run like I want to has hit me pretty hard. Like a lot of us distance runners, I have a pretty strong connection (okay, addiction) to running. While I try not to let it define me as a person, it's certainly a major part of my life. Having it taken away (again...I've been through this scenario many times before) is getting harder to deal with. If I was a drinking man, I may be working on a fifth per day by now.


One positive that has come from the down time is renewed upper body strength. During the meat of my marathon training, I neglected any strength training I should have been doing. I could do about 25 pushups, max, at that time. A few days ago I managed 50 in one set (a PR for me), along with 14 pullups (most in several years), and 30 hanging dips (another PR). Look for me on the cover of Rock-Hard Studliness soon.

I'll sign off before I start rambling about my kids and my fantasy football teams. I hope you're running strong & healthy, and if not, that you heal quickly. And put in a long run for me. I REALLY miss those.

OUTSIDE CLYDE / ON THE STREET PETE

Man, was it good to run with my running club buddies this morning! This was my first "street run" since August 10th, and my first run with the club since July 31st. The last three weeks, I've been gingerly running on the treadmill, along with one day a week at a local high school track. I was nervous about the hills, but aside from just a little discomfort on one downhill stretch, the foot held up just fine this morning. I finally received my KT tape in the mail yesterday and watched a couple of good youtube vids on applying it for certain foot issues. I taped up last night and ran with it this morning and it seemed to help.

I kept the mileage moderate – 4.1 miles at 8:02/mile pace. That pace felt harder than it should have, but that's no surprise since I've hardly run since early August.

At this point, my plan going forward will still be three runs per week; once on the treadmill, once at the track, and once on the roads – all 3 to 5 miles each. While the foot has mostly felt good, I know it's not completely healed. But this type and this amount of running will hopefully both strengthen my foot and let me maintain some semblance of fitness until I can start increasing my distances, frequency and pace later this year and early next year. Right now, I'll take what I can get!

I'm STRONGLY considering some Zensah compression socks to add to my KT tape treatment. I've got a few running friends who swear by them. If you've had experience with them, I'd love to get your take on them.

SNAKES!

Before we get into the meat of this entry, let me share with you my running status. The previous three weeks, I ran three times each week. My total mileage for week 1 of my current comeback was 4 miles. Week two was 8 miles. Last week totaled 9.8 miles. Today I began week four with 4 miles on the treadmill. I've been doing my Monday and Friday runs on the treadmill and my Wednesday runs on a local high-school track. My foot pain has been up and down, with not as much rhyme nor reason as I had thought, given today's run. It was my longest run since my layoff, followed by 70 minutes of pushing a lawnmower around our yard (which includes a hill...which normally makes my foot very angry). Tonight, the foot feels great. Last Friday, however, 3 miles on the treadmill caused foot pain and discomfort for the next 12 hours. As of now, the foot seems to be a day-by-day issue. My three days per week of short, flat runs will continue for the foreseeable future.

Okay, with that out of the way, I'll get into some good stuff. This is a running blog, and I'm indeed a runner. But, since my days of running around with the Rat Pack, I am first and foremost an entertainer. Ah, the stories I could tell about Dean Martin and I hiding Sammy Davis, Jr's glass eye...

But I digress. For some reason, tonight's dinner table conversation turned to snake talk. With my daughters hanging on every word, they asked me to tell them about my various experiences with snakes. Now, Steve Irwin (God rest his soul) I am not, but I've had a few interesting encounters. Here are four vignettes:

1. I spent my middle school years in St. Petersburg, Florida – home of many varieties of snakes; many of them poisonous. We had a garden tool in our shed that resembled a hoe, but with a straight, rather than bent, blade. I dubbed it my 'Snake Killer' (to this day, I don't know its intended use). One hot, muggy day I went out to our backyard to play and spotted a large, gray snake. I grabbed my Snake Killer and chased the snake back and forth across the outside wall of our house. I finally got a chance and successfully chopped its head off. It was only then, standing there in shorts and flip-flops, that I noticed the row of rattles at the end of its tail. I decided against telling my mom about that incident. This story just reminded me of a more recent summer drive across Washington state. While at a rest area, our dog nearly stepped on a coiled Western diamondback hiding in scrub brush. Wow. Not sure why she didn't smell it. Crazy as she was, she would have tried to play with it.

2. Once again in our FL back yard, there were three long black racers. I heard a ruckus and looked out my bedroom window to see them raised up in the air, the front three feet of their bodies straight up, trying to bite the two or three mockingbirds that were screeching and swooping down on them. It was pretty surreal. It was as if I was in India and someone was playing a clarinet as they swayed and danced. Just substitute a wicker basket with several angry birds.

3. Florida again, this time as an 18-yr old (visiting my mom during summer – by this time I lived in WA state with my dad). A friend and I went on a canoeing trip down a river with his mom's church. I'm not sure if it was entirely my fault that we kept drifting toward the bank, but I'll take the blame. I was in front, my friend in back. We were stuck under low-hanging branches. I ducked and tried to paddle our way back to the center of the river, while my friend fought the branches. He reached up and ended up pulling a fat and very poisonous 6' water mocassin into our canoe. He screamed a bunch of not-church-friendly words and flipped him out of the boat with his oar. By the time I turned around, the pastor of the church was beating the snake (now in the water) with his oar from his canoe, behind us. I may have wet myself just a little that day.

4. I'm not sure if I've ever mentioned it here, but it may not surprise you that I had a long, distinguished career as a practical joker. I did my best work between 1985 and 1994 (the last time I was employed by anyone other than myself...thus losing the opportunity to advance my jokester career. No, my wife is not a prime target). One of my crowning achievements happened during the summer of 1987. I was 20 years old, working in the warehouse of an electrical parts distributor in Kent, Washington (my home at that time). There were 7 of us employed there; one of whom was a very yuppie, pink shirt, white collar, slicked-back hair, "hey big guy"-saying, outside salesman (but a nice guy). Russ had a MAJOR fear of snakes. So...I did what any post-teen pratical jokemaster in that situation would do. I waited for him to leave the office on a sales call. I proceeded to take a small box with me to the shrub-laden field behind our office and collected about 12 garter snakes. I taped up the box, wrote "attn: Russ" on it (supposedly from our Seattle branch), placed it on his desk, and waited eagerly for his return. When he arrived, I was a bit uneasy as he decided to get on the phone with a customer AS HE WAS OPENING THE BOX. Seconds later, there was a shriek reminiscent of a teenaged girl at a Duran Duran concert (back then, of course), a flying phone receiver, a flying box, a dozen flying snakes, and one sharp-dressed, slender outside salesman standing on top of his desk with a look of terror on his face.

It was two weeks before he spoke to me again.

I did some of my most creative work at this particular place of business and was actually thrown into our dumpster by two of my coworkers once, who apparently didn't appreciate the artistic genius of my craft. I was in my prime, I tell ya!

So, there you have a summary of my history with snakes, along with a small glimpse into my former jokester life.

More running stuff soon, I promise.

Yesterday

Yesterday
Track was such an easy game to play
But now my speed has really gone away
I ran a time trial yesterday

Suddenly
My foot is better than it used to be
Now the treadmill isn't all I see
A high school track
Sounds good to me

I ran a warmup mile
That's my style
Before I tried

To test my
Current speed
With a hard mile
Yesterday

Yesterday
You ask, "what time did your Garmin say?"
6:31 with quite a high heart rate
I ran a time trial yesterday

I felt really slow
But I know –
I took a break
And no speedwork
Had I done
Before my mile run
Yesterday

Yesterday
I took my fickle right foot out to play
I'm slow, but running might be here to stay
I was quite pleased
With yesterday




[maybe I'll record this...]

Is It What's IN The Shoes?

I mentioned in my previous post that my bum foot has taken a sudden turn for the better. I've now run on the treadmill four times and each time, the foot hasn't been an issue. There was some slight discomfort during a couple of post-run days, but nothing like I was experiencing before.

Yesterday, I ran an easy two miles on the machine. Today, my foot feels better than it has since I first noticed the injury back in late May. Crazy!

In June, when I was going to physical therapy, I was pretty good about keeping a 3rd party insole in my shoes (Superfeet Green). I quickly became lazy and forgot to shuffle them around from pair to pair, also thinking that I would be doing my foot a disservice by supporting it, rather than strengthening the muscles by staying as minimal as possible. While I'm not going to start trashing on the "minimalist movement", I do think I made a mistake.

While my foot continues to heal and get stronger, I feel the additional support has been a key factor in how it has felt lately. I started wearing the insoles CONSTANTLY (i.e. even in my house slippers...and I work at home, so I wear them a LOT). That doesn't mean I'm allowing my foot muscles to get lazy. I'm doing self-massage, stretching my calves and achilles, and doing toe raises (up with both feet, down with just the injured foot).

Whether or not I'll seek out advice on custom orthotics remains to be seen. It depends on how the foot reacts when I finally start: a) running outside on varying terrain, and: b) increasing my mileage. Maybe the Superfeet Green insoles are just enough support to do the trick.

I know they're pretty anti-minimal, but if this is what it takes to get me running again, I'm wearing them (while still working on my form, turnover rate, etc).

Do any of you wear either custom orthotics or OTC insoles? What are your thoughts & experiences with them?

Interesting Development…and Future Plans

INTERESTING DEVELOPMENT

[Apologies in advance - this will be long]

If there is such a beast as a schizophrenic hypochondriacal chameleon, then I am he.

I recently had a stretch of bad days involving quite a bit of foot and ankle pain. After posting here last Tuesday that I HAD to get in to see a sports podiatrist, I got pretty busy with work. The next day, my foot suddenly felt pretty good. On a total whim, I put on my running shoes w/my Superfeet Green insoles in them and gently stepped onto my cheapo treadmill. I jogged a 9:30 mile. Hmm. No pain. I was actually hoping there would be some pain so I could justify the visit to the doc even more than I already thought I could. I didn't want a situation similar to bringing my car into the shop and telling the mechanic, "well, it's running fine now, but trust me, it was making all kinds of horrible noises yesterday."

I then ran a slightly faster (8:19) mile on the treddy on Thursday. Same thing. No pain. I skipped Friday because there actually was a little discomfort in my upper ankle area (not where the pain usually is, and not as bad). I iced, massaged and stretched. Today, I stepped back on the "going nowhere fast" machine and grinded out a 17:06 2-miler (8:33 pace). Good news - no pain once again. Bad news - I'm HORRIBLY out of shape. It felt like I just ran a half marathon at race pace. I guess that's to be expected.

Does this mean I'm all better and can start ramping up the miles now? Does it mean I won't see the foot doc? As for the latter, I honestly don't know...but I definitely won't be increasing my mileage any time soon, though. At best, I'll attempt three very short treadmill runs per week to hopefully strengthen my legs and feet. If there's any sign of recurring pain, I'll stop. If I'm regressing, I'll hit up the doc right away. I think the flat, forgiving treadmill is easier on my foot than the hard pavement or uneven trails.

Why did the pain seem to suddenly disappear? Maybe some friends and family threw some prayers up for me (yes, I believe in them). It's an odd thing. Like I said, I can still feel something unsavory happening down there, but it's nowhere near what I was experiencing about a week ago.

FUTURE PLANS

The above report leads into my new plans for later this year and the first part of next year. Since it seems that relatively high mileage (for me),  long runs and hills led to my foot issue, I'm going to focus on…hold onto your hats…speed. And I'm not just talking Mario Kart Wii speed, either (although I'll kick your butts on most courses…bring it on, homeys. I'll even give you my "friend" number if you ask). I'm going to train as if I'm training for high school track season, starting either late this year or the beginning of next year. My true desire would be to slowly ramp up the mileage again for either a 2nd marathon attempt next spring or a 1st ultra attempt, but I don't think my foot could handle it.

Last year, during marathon training, I started to miss my (ahem) leg speed (assuming I ever had any). Don't get me wrong - I LOVE long runs and I get sucked into the lure of more and more miles, but I truly felt I could be running faster. Where it really hit me was during Ragnar. I was fortunate to be on a team with some pretty quick young(er) guys. There were four of us over 40 and I held my own compared to them, but I started to get envious of the youngsters knocking out 6-6:15 mile splits.

To further support my rationale (i.e. try to convince myself), I can hopefully avoid the cumulative fatigue that the longer miles and few rest days were causing. Not to say that intense speed work will be a walk in the park. While my foot may not agree, I still think of myself as a long-distance runner, and busting out fast 400 meter repeats sounds like torture. But it doesn't involve the foot-beating hills nor 2-hour runs (although I love both).

I try not to dwell on or relive the past, but a lot can be learned from it. My high-school track program (distance, anyway) left a lot to be desired. During my senior season, I averaged 18.5 miles/week during the season (more than that leading up to it). It included a LOT of speed work and very little distance. I managed to improve my mile time from 5:13 (end of my junior season) to a still-not-terribly-fast 5:01 by the end of my senior season. On that paltry mileage base, I also knocked out my fastest 10k right after track season ended (39:06). Even at age 43, I still feel like I can get relatively fast again. I doubt I'll see a 5 minute mile in the future, but I think I can go sub-6 and even break my soft 5k PR. I may even consider racing in an all-comers track meet next summer.

Something I learned after training for my marathon is that I need to build more rest days into my program. I don't recover very quickly anymore. Once I begin this program, I'll shoot for 4 running days per week instead of the 5-6 days I was running last spring. I won't run as much speed work as I did in high school – maybe twice per week – but I'll average a few more miles per week, even with fewer runs. I'll keep up the strength work and maybe hit the bike trainer once a week.

Assuming my plan works, I should be ready for some fast(er) running at Ragnar next year. Then, if the foot is holding up, I'll transition into longer runs (still allowing for adequate recovery), with the hopes of either running a fall marathon or my first ultra.

If you're still awake and reading this, congratulations. I've even bored myself. But I gotta say that I'm excited to focus on something different for awhile. I always love a challenge and, while I'd love to jump back into some long, slow miles and hilly trails, I'm eager to see just how fast these old legs can turn over.

Of course, all of this is contingent on my [heavy sarcasm alert] always-compliant foot. In another month, there's a good chance I could be writing a book called Once A Runner*


*that title hasn't been taken, has it?

Gotta Do It

It's now been exactly 6 weeks since I last ran a step and my foot has not improved. Yes, I have good days, but if I do anything that involves my foot – even to small degree, like walking or yard work – it aches badly the next day or two.

I think I've pinpointed the problem. From all I've read, the symptoms match those of posterior tibial tendonitis, with a side of anterior tibial tendonitis thrown in for good measure (and possibly some ligament damage). Overuse and, likely, overpronation are the causes (hard downhill running probably put it over the top). As I learned during my first physical therapy stint back in June, my right foot does pronate more than my left.

So...even though finances are tight, I've convinced my wife that this is a pretty serious problem. If untreated, I've read, the arch can deteriorate and the tendons can rupture (if they haven't already). Insurance-wise, I'm not terribly far from meeting my deductible anyway.

Right now I'm deciding on who I want see. There's a local sports podiatrist that looks promising. There's also a sports chiro in Bellevue that might be an option (although it would involve a lot of driving), as well as a sports therapist at the UW (again, lots of driving & traffic hassles). There's a good chance I'll need orthotics. I would also wager that I may be in a walking boot for awhile, too.

The layoff from running has been tough, but the last week or so has been particularly difficult. The fact that there's no sign of improvement is getting depressing. I miss running terribly. I don't want to define myself solely as a runner, but it is (was) a big part of my life. Also the fact that I quit running a few years ago thinking I'd never run again makes this especially tough...kind of a "here we go again" deal.

I know I'll get through this and back to running eventually. I'm not giving up hope. Just having a tough time coping with it. Thanks for all your encouragement...and for watching my goofy videos. There WILL be more of those...

Update

It has now been 30 days since I last experienced the joy of running...although there wasn't much joy happening during that last 12 miler some 30 days ago. During the last mile, I felt all kinds of things pulling and possibly tearing all through the inside of my right foot. Since I've covered that in depth on this blog, I won't rehash it now.

What I will rehash is the cross-training I've been doing lately.

[*crickets*]

Alright...so I haven't done as much as I had planned. Early last week, I aggravated my foot while walking across a sloped field (while getting photos and info for my article), which caused a lot of pain the remainder of last week – especially around and in front of my ankle. I decided to err on the side of caution and refrain from any cardio work that would involve flexing my feet.

I did manage to continue my once-a-week circuit workout, and managed to set a new PR of 266 total reps (surpassing last week's PR of 251), so my strength is returning even if my aerobic fitness is suffering. However, I squeezed in a one hour stint on my bike last evening on the indoor trainer. Not a big fan of the trainer, but with the recent weather (and as much of a bike wimp as I am), it was a good compromise.

I've committed to volunteering at the Baker Lake 50k (which I was planning on running) on 10/2. Hopefully it won't involve too much walking. I imagine it'll be difficult to watch everyone (including several friends) running it. But it'll also be fun to help out and cheer them on.

So at the halfway point of my self-imposed running exile, I'd have to guess that I may have an even longer layoff than anticipated, based on how the foot currently feels. I hate to think this way, but honestly I'll be thrilled if I run again this year. If I do, it'll be short and slow.

Cross-Training Chronicles, Episode 1

Battle Diagram

The Battle of Little Rightfoot has gotten out of...well...hand (I slay me).

Enemy troops have repositioned and reinforced and, as recently as 17:00 yesterday, they advanced to a new front and have launched a heavy assault on allied forces.

A full explanation in diagram form follows (click for larger view):