Right foot still no bueno

Update on my right foot.

As you know I was sidelined for almost a year with no running. I only recently was able to start running again in Aug 2019 after tons of physical therapy, several cortisone shots and one PRP shot.  I wasn't sure if my foot could handle ramping back up and I was quite nervous.  There were a couple of iffy moments in the beginning where I had to back off on mileage, but thankfully by Nov I was running consistently.  I made it up to 12 miles during my training, then ran 3M in Jan.  I was worried running a race might derail me, and sure enough it did.  I felt great the 1st 6 miles and went faster than my training pace runs.  By mile 8 & 10 I had foot pain and thought I felt/heard a pop in my foot.  The tendons were NOT happy.  I did finish the race but since then I've had constant foot pain, even to the point of limping while walking.

I have decided to stop running for 2-4 weeks (hopefully I can stick to that). I may even put my boot back on. I did get a free consultation from Airrosti this past weekend at a CG event, they said it's cuboid syndrome or something like that, which causes pain on the lateral side of the foot and involves plantar! I was told to 1st work on strengthening my right hip, then work on ankle/arch strength.

Fun stuff. I hate being injured...

The next race I'm signed up for is the Dfest 5K in May...really hoping I'll be OK for that. I should...that gives me 3 months. Then I have the Shiner 10K in Nov.

I think my competitive running days are over...I'm to the point I don't want to go over 6 miles anymore and rather just run for fun and the company of my friends. Plus I seem to constantly get injured from running. 😞

Injury update - I got the boot!

Say hello to my little friend. Peroneal tendonitis. So long ADC, you my friend are never gonna happen for me...At least 2-3 weeks in the boot, then we shall see how I feel. And no, I was NOT running...I was being good, but body was overcompensating for the plantar and caused the tendons on the outside of ankle to become overloaded, making it painful and difficult to walk. Treatment: Immobilization: Stopping the foot and ankle from moving using a boot or support.

So yup, ADC goals were dashed.  As soon as I received this diagnosis I sold all my bibs except for Austin Half.  I'm not even allowed to do bootcamp!  Now I'm just trying to rest (so hard for me to do) and figure out trendy footwear to pair with my new accessory.

Oh, I am keeping my Shiner bib...hoping by Mid Nov I'll be able to walk the 10K.  If not, I'm still going to the after party!

Injury Update

Sadly my foot has not improved since my last injury posting back in August.  I had hoped that taking some time off would be enough (beg of July- Aug), but I was wrong.  After 1.5 months off I slowly started trying to run again.  I was able to run 4 or 5 times at 1-2 miles each time, then when I tried for 3 miles the pain returned.  I ended up getting a cortisone shot in mid Aug and had to take another 2 weeks off from running.  During this time I was also going to PT and having very vigorous calf massages and trigger point therapy.  I was feeling great so decided to try running again in Sept, slowly of course.  No bueno, I only made it a couple runs before the pain returned.  I stayed off my foot until the Casa 5K (9/16) and took that race uber slow, with lots of walking.  I've never walked through a water stop before!  1st time for everything I guess.  After that race my foot continued to throb, the pain never dropped below a 3/4 on a 10 point scale of pain.  Even walking would irritate it.  Sadly I went back to my foot Dr today (10/1) and received my 2nd cortisone shot.  Of course my foot feels great right after that...but I'm worried after 2 weeks when I try jogging again that I'll be in the same boat as before.  If this shot doesn't work, my next option is Platelet Rich Plasma injections (PRP).  Essentially for PRP they take your blood and spin out the platelets and then inject them into the problem area, it helps promote soft tissue healing.  Finger's crossed that one of these work...my next race is a 10 miler the beginning of Nov!  Ugh...training on an elliptical isn't going to cut it.

Casa 5K (ADC 1)

Oops!  Forgot to post about the 1st race for the Austin Distance Challenge, the Casa Superhero 5K on 9/16/2018!  This race was a lot of fun!  It was the first time I ever ran it, well I should say slowly jogged/walked it as I have plantar fasciitis in my right foot/heel.  There were tons of booths set up with free food and trinkets, lots of people dressed up as superheros and just some good ol' fun!  The race was at 8 am, so not crazy early.  It was probably around 70 degrees and humid!  I ran the race with Karen and Mai, we tried to keep our HR's under 150 so we'd jog slowly for a while, then walk to recover, repeat.  Thankfully this strategy went over well with my foot...it only slightly ached from the race. 

Afterwards we hit up the ADC tent for our free taco and magnet.  Next up were the giveaway booths.  We scored coffee, Amy's ice-cream, free sunglasses, chips and other food items.  My favorite was taking a picture with the 'official' superheros who were promoting the race. 

My race time is not even worth publishing for this entire ADC series as I'm going to have to slowly jog/walk it due to my injury.  😒  Right now I'm stubborn and determined to finish the ADC...but we shall see what happens once I hit the half marathons...

Black Panther for the win!

Wrecked

It wouldn't be like me if I didn't post an injury update here and there. Something Carsyn and I have in common.

I went to my sports Dr today for my foot (and knees) and had xrays taken. Verdict is I can run (YAY) and the culprit is plantar fascia of the medial cord insert (BOO!). Not much I can do but stretch it, wear heel cups, no barefoot walking, etc. I can run but I need to come back in slowly and take it easy. Guess I caught it early enough to recover more quickly this time (hopefully). Check out my xrays, I have a wicked bone spur on my heel, you would have thought that was the culprit, but no. Oh! The straight on shot of my foot is showing an navicular OS (extra bone) on the inside of my arch, I had it removed when I was young and it grew back! UGH!

On another (kinda sad) note, I had my knees examined. They have bothered me for years. Turns out I have osteoarthritis (OA - wear and tear of the joints) and Patellofemoral Syndrome (overuse from vigorous athletics = pain). Yup, I was afraid it was that. The Dr actually said I was pretty young to have this much arthritis already...This means I need to do more cross-training, less high impact, take up biking/elliptical/rowing (WTF! I'm so not any of these) AND reduce running. My Dr cringed when I told him I had 4-5 halves in the next 6 months. Long story short - I can run, but the longer and harder distances will result in payment later (think knee scopes/replacement). So my full marathon days are officially over (never say never?), and I'll need to run less half marathons a year.

When I wreck myself, I go ALL THE WAY. Also attached are my xrays from 2005 when I broke my hip from my very 1st half marathon. Pretty nifty eh? Just call me bionic...cause soon my knees will be there...I think my body has been trying to tell me for years to stop running...but I don't listen.

link to pictures

In the past 2 days I decided to make a list of all my injuries/surgeries/etc.  I find it impressive.

• Extra bone removed right foot – elementary school
• Right hand pinky finger fractured playing VB (splint) – HS (95/96?)
• Several sprained ankles w soccer/VB - HS
• Wisdom teeth removal - sometime in HS
• Lasik (eyes) – March 18, 2005
• Left hip femoral neck break (surgery, screws in hip) – May 2005
• Softball to the chin, line drive, 9 stitches - June 2010
• C-section – April 2011
• Plantar fasciitis in both feet – May 2012
• Stress fracture left foot – Sept 2012
• C-section – Oct 2013
• TFL (Tensor fasciae latae) left hip strain – Aug 2016 – Dec 2016
• Broke right pinky toe – Sept 2017
• Plantar fascia right heel (medial cord insert) – Jun-Aug 2018 (and still going...)

  

cracked femoral neck 2005

screws to fix my hip

amazing heel spur - July 2018

extra bone grew back - Jul 2018

softball to face = stitches, June 2010

broken pinky toe Sept 2017

broken pinky toe

Running update - injury & recovery

It's been a while since I posted about anything, especially running.  That's because after the SeaWheeze half marathon in Aug I've been on hiatus due to a hip injury.  It only took several x-rays, 2 MRIs, going to PT and seeing a hip specialist to figure out I have a TFL injury (Tensor fasciae latae pain).  Essentially my muscle was very irritated and I had to take off almost 4 months to recover.  I still have some residual soreness but as of the last week in December it finally started feeling better, I'd say 99% healed!  For the past 2-3 weeks I have been able to run 20 mins every other day, so essentially 2 miles each time, without pain.  Here's to hoping I'm fully recovered by April/May time frame for some 5Ks.

As a result of my injury I had to back out of the Austin Distance Challenge and sell all my bibs, 5 races in total:  80s 8K, RFTW, Decker, 3M and Austin half.

I'm just hoping I'll be recovered by next fall to start in on some more races and maybe even run the Austin Full!

2014 Running Review

2014 was an excellent running year for me, new races and new distances!  I did have some feet issues again and had to go see my sports doctor.  He recommend custom orthotics, which are crazy expensive.  I was devastated, I really didn't want to have to shell out $300+ for insoles.  I went to the insole specialist the Dr suggested and after he watched me walk he recommended a standard insole!  Thank goodness since these Spenco inserts are actually affordable and they ended up being a life saver!  I use them in all my running shoes and haven't had any issues or injuries since.  :D

I ran 4 races in 2014, one of them being my very first marathon!!!  Injury free too.  ;)  I've met a lot of awesome ladies in our hood, and thanks to them they made training for my marathon enjoyable!  I also joined the neighborhood bootcamp (with the running ladies) for about 2 months, which I really believe helped to strength my core enough to take on the marathon.  Towards the end of the year I was accepted by Team Beef to be a Beef Tip in 2015!!  Once I complete the requirements (3 races and a volunteer event) I will become a full member and receive reimbursements on my races as well as other perks (beef dinners, etc).

Total miles run:  984

Races:
4/13 - Austin1020 my first race back post baby #2.  10 miles, 1:44:28 (10:20 pace)
5/10 - Ants in your Pants 5K - 3.1 miles, 27:00 (8:43 pace)
6/12 - Maudie's Moonlight Margarita 5K @ 8pm - I about died due to the heat.  29:21 (9:28 pace)
12/7 - SA Rock n Roll Marathon - 26.2 miles, 4:52:57 (11:11 pace).  Really ran 26.48 at 11:03 pace.

Marathon finisher photo

bragging rights

2012 Running Review

I had a lot of ups and downs with running this year.  I set some new PR's, ran a couple half marathons, participated in my first Tri and then my body broke down.  I developed plantar fasciitis in both feet after the Deutchen Pfest race in late May, which then resulted in a stress fracture in my left foot as I tried to compensate for the pain and kept running on it.  I had to stop running for ~2 months (sept/oct/nov).  :(  I started back up slowly around Thanksgiving, and thankfully by the end of Dec I was able to run again without pain!

Total miles run:  565 miles
Total miles biked: 450 miles

Races:
1/20 - 3M 1/2 Marathon, 13.2 miles, 1:58:58 (PR)
2/19 - Austin Livestrong 1/2 Marathon, 13.2 miles, 2:06:54
3/3 - Tiara 5K, 3.13 miles, 31:29 (ran with Emma)
3/25 - Capitol 10K, 6.27 miles, 57:44
5/20 - Deutschen Pfest Pfun Run, 3.1 miles, 25:26 (PR)
7/14 - Anderson Mill Mini Tri ~24:25mins: 300 yd swim 7:57, 2 mile bike 6:32, 1 mile run 8:11(9:18 pace)

3M half 2012