Weather - 83 degrees, sunny. After yesterday's race the bottom of my right foot felt cramped. When I walked home from the race the cramp was not too bad, but I noticed it. When I rested at home the front part of the heal became tight, and it remained that way. I iced it, then went for a walk in the evening. It loosened up on the walk, but when I returned home and sat down it tightened up again. I checked the internet and found that the symptoms match plantar fasciitis. It is too early to know if that is what it is, so I will have to monitor it closely and hope for the best. Rather than worry about it, I did what I have done for the past 10 months, go for a run. I walked a half mile before beginning to loosen the foot, then ran 4 miles. The foot loosened sufficiently to where I barely noticed the tightness. I even ran the final 800m hard, just to see. After the run I did 3 sets of strength exercises, stretching, and 35 minute walk home. During the walk the foot was not too bad. When I got home it became stiff, so now I am icing it. I am not sure how this will turn out. I may have to stop running for a while if the pain becomes progressively worse. Or, if it remains the same, I can at least run 4 miles a day until a change occurs. From what I have read it can take up to a year for it to heal. I don't know if running is bad for it or not, but I will run as long as it allows me to. I am still planning to run the Wilderness race in 3 weeks if the foot does not worsen. As for the 33 miler, I have two months until race day, so by then I will have a better idea of what I can do. #289
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