How Much Discomfort Can I Tolerate?!

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

Weather - 68 degrees, sunny, humid.

Ran 4 easy miles this morning. My right foot loosens sufficiently to allow me to run, so that makes me happy.

During my down time I am icing and massaging the foot, don't know if it will help.

#290

Weather - 95 degrees, sunny, humid.

My foot felt more relaxed and about 50% better this morning, so I am happy that it is recovering rather than becoming worse.

Ran 4.5 miles in hot noon-time heat, the final 1.5 miles at a hard pace. My foot did not bother me during the run, but later in the afternoon I was on my feet for 3 hours painting the house and the heel became a bit sore.

After the run 3 sets of strength exercises, stretching, and 35 minute walk home.

Icing the foot now...

#291

Weather - 80 degrees, clouds/rain, humid.

Very humid, but wet, so it felt good to be running in a mixture of rain/sweat. Ran 3 miles easy and 2 miles hard on the usual park/woods route.

My foot felt slightly better than yesterday, and it did not bother me during my run. After the run I took a hot bath and massaged the foot. When I finished the bath I placed my foot on a frozen water bottle and rolled it back and forth for 15 minutes. The massage/ice therapy appears to be having a good effect, because everyday the stiffness decreases.

I thought there was a good chance I was going to have to stop running by now, but it looks like this may not be a serious injury. I will hope for the best.

#292

Weather - 73 degrees, raining.

4 easy miles in a steady rain. I have been feeling a bit of over-training syndrome for the past 2 weeks, but today I felt a bit of energy resurface. I will continue to run easy until I feel recovered.

I have noticed that my resting heart rate is above 60, which is about 7-10 beats faster than normal.

My foot seems to be recovering, today I hardly noticed any discomfort. I massaged and iced it, will continue to do so until it feels 100%.

#293

Weather - 62 degrees, night.

Easiest run of the year - 1 mile around my neighborhood with Maggie the dog. My foot is almost back to normal, so running only 1 mile will be good for it.

#294

Weather - 66 degrees, clear.

Ran 1 mile in the evening with Maggie the dog. It feels odd to have run so little the past two days, but tonight I was reminded why it is good to pull back occasionally - I could feel my body's increased strength because of the rest.

My foot feels pretty good, everyday is better than the last. 

#295