Running Injured
My darn toe. Actually it’s my foot, and technically my first metatarsal (AKA foot bone). It’s sore, it’s tender and it’s not making me happy. It started about 6 weeks ago on a “brick” run, which is a 3-mile run after a bike ride. I thought nothing of it as those aches & pains come and go when you are training for triathlons. A week later I did a race and it didn’t hurt. I thought it was better. But then the pain came back. Three weeks later in another race, I was getting blisters on my toes (because I didn’t wear socks) so my focus was on those blisters, not on my toe pain. You see, socks take too long to put on in the transition area of a race, so yes I opt to bike & run without socks, and deal with the blisters later.
I’ve done a few 8-mile runs in the past two weeks, and while my toe/foot does hurt, it doesn’t slow me down or change my gait. And the odd thing is, is that it only hurts when I run, which doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. I can stand on my feet all day at work without pain, but the minute I put on my running shoes, it starts to hurt. Well logic says then try different shoes, and I have, yet it still hurts no matter what shoes I am wearing. And the other day I had the brilliant idea of going for a walk and guess what? My foot hurt. And yes, I was wearing my running shoes. The good news is that the pain isn’t getting worse, so I don’t think I’m doing any damage to it by running on it. However, I have big races planned for 2015 and I don’t want it to become a problem.
So the doctor in me has decided to rest, to take two weeks off from running to see what happens. I think it’s some sort of tendonitis. So I’m resorting to rest, ice, essential oils, massage, chiropractic adjustments and cold laser therapy, and will see what comes of it. I pray it gets better and that two of rest weeks is all I need.
In the meantime, I’m sort of enjoying this extra free time to get things done. I can totally see how people can get into a habit of not working out, spending their time doing other things. While I’m happy with this period of rest, I may not be in a few weeks. Exercise adds so much to my life. A feeling of well-being, fitness and overall happiness. They say exercise is the best anti-depressant there is and I totally agree.
Working out provides your body stress relief, a way to burn calories, think about other things and get away from the hectic life of work & family. If you are someone who doesn’t exercise, it is never too late to start. And starting with small steps is fine. You don’t have to run 8-minute miles or 26 miles. You don’t have to do P90X if your body can’t handle it. Do what you like and what you can handle. The only way to know what that is, is to try. Take that first step. See if you can get out the door. Make the commitment.
Exercise should become a lifelong habit, not something you do for a little while. And if you are injured, see if we can help. Often time chiropractic adjustments can help sports injuries, along with cold laser & massage therapy. I know those things have generally kept me going the past 28+ years or so, and I hope to continue exercising my entire life. I love it that much.
