Denouement

Wow, day 5 without running. I went to Dr. Brady's today at 11am.

After filling out 5 pages of forms with repeat info on each, I go back to an office. I was starting to wonder why I was going to a chiropractor for my issues. Then I tell myself he is a chiropractor specializing in sport issues. I talk to his assistant, who gives me a short massage on my calves and feet (sweet a massage is thrown in! about 8-10 minutes). I am also wondering if I am wearing the right clothes (a long flowing skirt, knee highs, which quickly came off-the knee high's that is). So I am laying on my stomach on the table wondering how I am going to meet a doctor when I am laying on a table. He came around and there was a bench on the side, so I was able to just roll over and chat with him about my situation. I told him I wasn't sure if it was psychosis or a real injury. He has me go in another room with exercise equipment, computers and other gadgets. He has me stand on a pad that analyzes my feet. Then I walk on it several times, then I run on it several times. I am starting to get skeptical as I stare at the orthotics on his window sill, "This guy is going to try to sell me orthotics!" But he didn't. He said I pronate, especially on my right foot. Well, my left foot hurts more than my right, so that's probably not the cause.

Then we go back in the examining room and I do some squats, and some one legged squats I could barely do because I am not balanced. Then he has me go on the table and he starts to work my legs over and I am a total wuss so I am moaning and groaning. He starts making fun of me and calling me Princess. He asks, does this hurt a couple dozen times. It felt pretty tender around my inside ankles and I said perhaps its just because he is digging in hard, and he said, "No Princess, it's because that's where you are injured." So he kept me laughing and wincing the whole time. Then he does his classic chiro manipulation, and I am struggling to stay loose, because he is saying "Relax" as he is pulling at my leg in ways that almost throw me off the table. Kind of hard to relax, I'd say.  He does some stretches and says that he found my problem, that my calves and hams are super tight and I have very little flexibility.  I said that if I were flexible I would be a gymnast, not a runner.  He said that was a cop out and if he heard me say that excuse again he would show me the door and I could find another physician.  He had me rolling.  So then he put some ultrasound waves through my worse leg and some a-stem (not sure on spelling).  My legs felt so great at the end.

Diagnosis: The best news is the diagnosis is that I don't have true achilles tendinitis, but another tendon is strained because of my muscle tightness, but I caught it early enough to train through it. 

Treatment:  He gave me some stretches I need to do several times a day.  We will add to that stretching regimin and I guess I have to keep it forever.  I guess being flexible and having loose muscles help prevent injury.  I will go next week again on M, TH, and some more weekly follow ups, depending on how I am feeling.  I think Dr. Brady is going to be part of my running support group.  I am so glad I came. 

So I get to run tomorrow!  I will keep it easy for a while.

And tax season is over baby!

I have been drinking shameful amounts of caffeine the past couple of months.  Tomorrow starts detox so I am likely to be quite grouchy for a while.  Good thing ya'll are remote buddies so I won't be likely to lash out at any of you!
 

I ran with MacK this morning. I walked just a couple of minutes before starting. We ran an easy pace. After two miles we stopped and I did my stretches, then we continued on. Today my legs felt tired and heavy. I am supposing it is because my legs got worked over yesterday. I also felt constriction in my breathing, so it was overall a very unglorious return to running. I wasn't feeling it. I am glad to be able to run though. My legs felt fine with the exception of a couple of tinges of pain on the inside shooting up from my ankle, the same place it has been hurting. Nothing major at all. I promised Josse yesterday I wouldn't go more than 8 miles, so when my watch said 8.21 and I was still .5 mile from the car, I told MacK I was done and started walking. I did my stretches again at the end of the run.

I really need a nap today but we are leaving at noon and I have packing, cleaning, laundry to do and some people are coming to work on my house sometime this morning. Plus my bed is made. Not sure it is going to happen. I may sleep on the way down.

Ave pace 8:36

Official post tax season weight high: 129 (hey at least its not 130, or 152 like last tax season), so I gained probably 6 pounds, a bit more than my goal but I am really pleased at where I get to start.

We are off to Zion today so I won't be logging again for several days.

Camping just outside of the Zion east entrance. about 6000 ft elevation and 26F when I woke up. I ran an easy 7 miles. My feet were frozen until mile 5 (they were frozen in my sleeping bag so it was harder to warm up during the run. I ran along highway 9 to the east (out and back) so it was rolling uphill out and rolling downhill back. I felt kind of blah during the run. Some pangs on the inside toward ankle on both sides. Not persistent, just occasional.

Hiked about 6 miles today with the family, including emerald pools. Zion is so beautiful!

Ran same as yesterday out and back on highway 9. Morning temp was 29F so my feet defrosted at 4 miles instead of 5. I felt much more spry than yesterday, and did the uphill at about 8:30 ave pace, and then the down hill was right around 7 min pace with my last mile 6:36, so I'll count that last one as a marathon pace mile. I have been doing my stretch regimen about 4 times a day.

No hiking today since we went to St. George. I did do a frisbee tournament with my eight year old and ran with my six year old at the park where the St. George Marathon ended. I also got three pairs of shoes at St. George Running Center and got to chat with Steve Hooper. One of the shoes is a sweet pair of red racing flats with black laces and some silver trim. It matches our racing clothes but I am afraid these are bright shoes and I need to race fast in them because these shoes say, "Look at me!"

I also ran into Wildbull and ignored his first attempt to talk to me. I guess he recognized me but I didn't recognize him. Finally I understood he was a blogger and we chatted for a little, but hubby was burning me with some laser beams (he had been in the car with the kids as I tried on various shoes, for good reason not as excited as I am to be at a running store with blogging buddies). Sorry I couldn't have chatted more!