Tales from the IC : Stop Go Stop Go … (#4)

[CBDB]

Ok, so I made it off the IC on Saturday with my little run, but over the last few days that low burning sensation below the balls of my feet started to emerge again, so I slowed down again my progress from the couch. Plan is now to not run more than twice in the week, short easy runs just to keep my metabolism up but being ultra-patient and listening to the needs of my right foot. So tomorrow is my next quicky run, and we’ll see how that feels.

It feels a bit like stop go stop go 🛑👍🏽🛑👍🏽, but that’s also, I guess, the life of a runner.

So the IC still has me a bit in its grips, but I am doing harder workouts, foot stretches, yoga as usual and even managed to get a couple of rowing sessions in since posting last. Annoying thing is that I can’t seem to connect my rower to Zwift, and I so would love to row in Zwift’s virtual Watopia world!

A very nice little motivational thing also happened today! My medal arrived, that from my penultimate 10k run that I did on Halloween, so just before heading to the injury couch. They’re quite a beauty and I’ll definitely will be wearing these with my halloween outfit next year!

They obviously took a pretty long time getting here from Europe. (I blame Brexit, sorry). But it was really nice holding these beauties in my hand, as evidence that there was indeed a time in 2021 where I ran a weekly 10k!

And I’m expecting also something else to arrive soon. I did the deed and ordered some lower drop trail shoes, to start mixing my heel drops up a bit on my runs! Exiting!

So keep on running everyone! And I love reading about everyone’s runs! It keeps me sane as I patiently navigate my own path between IC couch, workouts, runs, and new shoes!

Keep on keeping on!

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

ALL LINKS TO MY RECOVERY POSTS:

So just to keep my links to my recovery couch available, here the links to the posts during the weeks on the injury couch. I’ve added a few terms to each link, as a means of reference:

Tales from the IC: Getting to know my Metatarsals (# 1) healthunlocked.com/bridgeto... (Metatarsalgia, fracture vs Morton’s Neuroma, shoes, barefoot and zero-drop shoes, exercises to strengthening toes)

Tales from the IC: zero-drop shoe quandaries (# 2) healthunlocked.com/bridgeto... (more about barefoot running, yoga for toes)

Tales from the IC: Reader, I ran today. (#3) healthunlocked.com/bridgeto... (trying out a short hill run, IPhone issues)

Tales from the IC : Stop Go Stop Go … (#4) healthunlocked.com/bridgeto... (back on the IC, waiting for last medals)

Tales from the IC : Baby (running) steps … (#5) healthunlocked.com/bridgeto... (trying out another mini run, ordering zero drop shoes)

Tales from the IC : Row Row Row your Run (#6) healthunlocked.com/bridgeto... (starting to row a runner on Zwift)

Tales from the IC : Festive Rowing-Run (#7) healthunlocked.com/bridgeto... (XMas, finished Zwift Running 101)

Tales from the IC : More Virtual Running Fun (#8) healthunlocked.com/bridgeto... (update on my rowing in all virtual races, also start of RowAlong 30x30)

Tales from the IC : Rowed runner intervals and hot lava! (#9) healthunlocked.com/bridgeto... (third week of daily rowing and missing running)

Tales from the IC (#10): Running vs Rowing. My experience of two different worlds healthunlocked.com/bridgeto... (differences between rowing and running, differences between different running vs rowing online communities, differences in stats)

Tales from the IC (#11): I dreamt I was running healthunlocked.com/bridgeto... (update on all virtual rowing challenges)

Tales from the IC (#12): Strong knees and cute toes healthunlocked.com/bridgeto... (finished Jan rowing challenges, starting to think how to get back to running)

Tales from the IC (#13): Running vs Rowing, muscley toes, and recovery plans healthunlocked.com/bridgeto... (recovery plans rowing and running, year goals)

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

I'm sorry to hear your foot is still giving you grief CBCB 🙁I'm not sure if you've ever done Adriene's Yoga for Feet, but I swore by it when I had PF during C25K a few years ago. Now I don't actually know if it was the yoga which fixed it, or nature itself, but the placebo effect was fantastic at the very least, and my PF eased considerably, enabling me to still run! 🥰

In the meantime, you're doing everything right of course, and I'm sure that in time your foot will allow you run again pain free. 🤞

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Ohh thank you! 🥰 Yes, the YWA for feet has been in my arsenal of tools since a couple of months. And I have been doing some similar and other foot strengthening exercises wherever I can throughout my day.

Strangely enough, my knees feel great. (I blame my squats 1st thing in the morning and last thing in the evening)

[dijep Graduate10]

Always good to get some bling and it's nice to be reminded of past achievements they help spur you off the IC and back out achieving.Sorry to hear your foot is playing up, but as you say all you can do is too listen to your body and adapt.

I remember a post you did a while ago about running being like a game of snakes and ladders and it's SO true.

I look forward to seeing new shoe pics soon ☺️

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to dijep]

Snakes and ladders indeed! 🐍 🪜🤣🤣

[Fionamags Graduate10]

Oh dear - sorry about the feet trouble - that must be frustrating. But as others have said, it sounds like you are doing all of the right things. You also have some lovely new bling to remind you that you smashed out those 10ks not so long ago and will do so again! Will be interested to hear how you find the new shoes with low heel drop too.

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Fionamags]

Thank you! Will do! And on the up side, my slow move off the IC will probably allow me to get used to low drop first in more walking and around the house kind of contexts. 😏

[Irishprincess Graduate10]

So frustrating but you’ve got the right attitude to get you through and you are keeping active which will give you an edge when you return to a full schedule again.

But what lovely bling!!! Looking at it must make you smile and bring back special memories 😍

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Irishprincess]

Oh it did! It’s certainly a medal I’ll wear as a necklace next Halloween and I’m already looking forward to that!

[Doris8 Graduate10]

Sorry about your feet, nothing worse than feet hurting. Your doing great on all your exercising, I don’t know how you have the patience. You’ll be back on the trail with your new shoes shortly . What kind did u get anyway .

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Doris8]

I got some Saguaro entry low-drop trail shoes. They are actually affordable and in many reviews were the chosen entry to barefoot/low drop shoes, as they are so affordable whilst feeling great on the feet, whilst also having sufficient trail protection. Only thing reported was that they do not last as long as others, but as it’s a third of the price of others, it allows one to try low-drop shoes.

[Doris8 Graduate10 in reply to CBDB]

That’s good to know

[Hidden]

Too bad you're not getting better. You're right to keep it calm when feeling a niggle.

I just received my medal last week from the Guiness record attempt of 10K. Took its sweet time...

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Wow! The Guiness 10k came really fast for me! Hope you enjoy! It’s been a long time coming!

I actually don’t know what happened with that record, as there were several different world record attempts!

[MrBassmanjazz]

I just wanted to say that I'm enjoying your playlist

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to MrBassmanjazz]

Awwhh , thank you! ☺️🎶🎧 (Now your name reminds me I always wanted to create a more jazzy running playlist! Running to Herbie Hancock would be quite something! Some day…)

[grumpyoldgirl]

Just commented on your last post then saw this about your poor feet! Don't know if this will help, but I had that problem when I started to run after breaking my ankle. My physio worked out that it was because of a constricted nerve that runs down the back of the leg and along the sole of the foot. So now before I go for a run I do some dynamic stretches to get everything freed up. I'll see if I can find a link.

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to grumpyoldgirl]

Ohhh, yes. How interesting. I have been doing some gentle feet stretches and I think they do help. So would be good to see what stretches worked for you as I definitely will try them!

[grumpyoldgirl in reply to CBDB]

myhealth.alberta.ca/health/... first exercise, the knee to chest stretch, is a little miracle worker. Seems odd that it makes my feet better but apparently it frees off that nerve. Weird! I struggled to find an example that showed the correct way to hold your leg (behind the knee, not just grabbing around the knee). I do this one every morning before I get up, a couple of times each side. I'll dig out the other ones for you.

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to grumpyoldgirl]

Thank you! Yes, the first one I do routinely but rather after every run as a post run stretch (but with the other leg flat on the ground).

But I never thought of doing these before a run. So I might try a bit of that. Thank you!

[grumpyoldgirl in reply to CBDB]

Another one. Hamstring stretch. Lie on back, knees bent, feet on floor. One leg at a time: leg in tabletop, straighten leg so foot points into the air, controlled bend and straighten four times. Hold the stretch for 20 seconds. Then, with leg in straight position, point and flex the foot 5 seconds - this is called a nerve slide apparently!

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to grumpyoldgirl]

Great! Have added it to my workout stretch app, and will try these! Thank you!

Stretch routines feet

[grumpyoldgirl in reply to CBDB]

Lovely stuff! I'm going to try that glute and hip stretch. I have been given so many different stretches I've put them into an A4 folder, because I keep forgetting them. Then when I get a twinge I have to dig out the folder to see what I've been forgetting to do! Good luck , hope you find something that helps x