Short version! There's a good chance all will be well and it will be better very soon!
Long version! So on Monday morning I woke to an unexpected massive pain in my heel whenever I stood on it. It felt bruised. I'd had a similar bruised feeling a couple of mornings the previous week but it had gone away as soon as I moved about so I thought it was just an 'old lady issue'. It didn't feel any better by Tuesday, and had woken me a couple of times in the night. With Bath HM less than three weeks away I was in panic mode. I cancelled my midweek run without hesitation and resigned myself to not being able to do my last long run at the weekend, but the race? would I still be able to do it? after such a steady fight to come back from last year's stress fracture (this is the other foot btw) this was a huge disappointment.
I decided to call a physio immediately rather than wait it out,and he could see me today. Over the phone he said one possibility was a stress fracture of the heel π¨. This had never occurred to me. It's fair to say, with no exaggeration, that first the walls came crashing down and then I imploded (such a drama queen - but nooooooo, just nooooo). Apart from the obvious impact on Bath HM, I imagined I wouldn't make it to Oxford HM (deferred from last year), I wouldn't be able to do my planned parkrun tourism (deferred from last year) .... but more than that ... did this mean I have a bigger issue with bone density perhaps, was this the end of running for me? It was a long evening. No-one at home would understand so I didn't tell anyone. I did mention it on here, big thanks to everyone who responded, it was unbelievably helpful to have that outlet π.
So today, I left my client and went to see this physio. He was quite nice. He seemed thorough. He made me feel very weak at times, but other times he gave me great positives (great calves, perfect running gait, jog on the spot better than I stand on the spot, no 'maltracking issues'). He had me run through the gym (I couldn't have done that a couple of years ago) rather than on a treadmill, and joy of joys there was no pain doing that (unlike when I walk, my heel isn't hitting the ground and definitely not hitting the ground with all my weight).
End result - he thinks there has been some trauma to the heel (possibly the support shoes pushing my foot so all pressure is on the outer edge) and the 'fat pad' is quite simply bruised. Rest till the end of the week then try running at the weekend and let him know how it is, but he thinks it will be fine. He's told me to stick with the Hokas (which are not a support shoe) and leave the Brooks for now.
So, I'd be happier if I knew exactly how it got bruised and how to avoid it (rather than a maybe) - but compared to being told I have another stress fracture this was like all my Christmases and birthdays rolled into one ππ₯³! Possibly I should feel a little bit embarrassed at making such a drama out of a bruise - but sorry, I don't, it could so easily have been the end of my world again π₯
As always, time will tell, but things look a lot more promising than they did last night! It's a shame if I have to miss my final long training run, but I suspect it's not the end of the world and I don't want to push it.
If you made it this far, you're very kind!!! Hopefully I will run Bath HM, hopefully with the rest of the team too Redcello41 Irishprincess cheekychipmunks , hopefully we will be the Fab Four at Bathalf π€ππͺπ€
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linda9389
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Thatβs fab news Linda! I can understand totally your depths of despair initially and then your elation at the latest news. For me, I tend to think of worst case scenarios first and then logic settles in π
Me too! or 'good afternoon' or 'good evening' ... or 'mais oui, il y'en a deux' (we used to see a lot of magpies - pie bavards - on weekends away in France and that's always stuck in my head π€£)
I do feel so much better about it BB. I hope it just goes away now. He is going to send me some exercises though as I failed miserably with my hip abductors ('I could spin you off this table with one finger' he said) and my obliques (I struggled even with the modified movement he asked me to do π€ͺ).
Thank you so much for your empathy. How is your foot doing at the moment?
Deluded! I haven't lost that much weight, and he didn't look like a prize fighter. I'd have been more concerned if you'd said that to me after your latch kicking past π€£π€£π€£
A banded leg lift and a banded bridge (opening legs at the top) I think. Haven't had an email yet so not sure how many! Plus a calf stretch on a block and a hip flexor stretch putting my foot up on something high (which I liked as you get all the stretch without the effort of a deep lunge). Thinking about it they are both hip abductor exercises, so maybe for the obliques I'm supposed to do the exercise I was rubbish at which was a sit up to the left and then right - I couldn't with my arms crossed, and I wasn't very good even with one arm down π
I was worried it might be your plantar facia... what a relief..
More exercises, lol I just suggested restπ what do I know!
I was thinking about you while practising 'my boat' this morning during yoga, and how strong you have become. (Crow...π) some exercises will help while you wait to run though, and it feels better to be pro-active.
You have always said the right thing to me and given me a boost to help keep me positive, so healing vibes coming your way with a sprinkle of good luck wrapped up in a big hug. πxx
My foot is the same, but not long til I see the physio again.
Ahh, but I knew you were thinking about me - in a way only someone who has been fighting foot pain as long as you have π₯ can! I will try to get out on my bike tomorrow so long as the forecast snow comes to nothing. And I will try to be as focused as you once the physio sends through his recommended exercises and stretches. Here's hoping your physio will let you move forward on your next visit π€
Oh Linda, poor you having such a stressy couple of days...I hope your next run in the Hokas goes swimmingly ππ€, then you can breathe a sigh of relief and be confident you are good to go π
What a relief linda9389 ! Iβm so happy for you! π I have a good feeling about this, and Team Bath will be all systems go! Yayayayay! πππππππ
Oh my goodness! I didn't see your other post!!! You poor thing!! No, you did absolutely the right thing! 100%!
How awful. A bone bruise can feel much, much worse. Any chance you kicked anything recently? I used to do high kicks to save my hands from stiff latches on my trailer doors until I realised what I was putting my feet through (then I started carrying a hammer π€£)
These fat pads have a lot to answer for, and apparently they reduce as we age which really doesn't help!
Really hoping he's right! You'll manage without your last run, you've got this πͺπ»ππ»π
Oh Linda! What a worry for you! π³ But I am so so glad it is not a stress fracture. You poor thing though, to go through all that for an evening. I will of course have everything crossed for you for your upcoming half, and look forward to hearing all about it. πππ
Nope, just blood, sweat and tears and some precious moments of jubilation! π Itβs so good we have this forum to share all this - phew! I am okay thanks. Managed another little run this morning with no dire consequences, so hereβs hoping! x
That sounds very positive. I hope you can relax a little now, and you will be fit, ready and raring to go for Bath. As you said to me - you can smash it! π
Understandable though given your recent history of foot trauma β€οΈ
The reality is as runners we will all suffer from injury at some point in our lives, we need to be there for one another and help each other through recovery.
I had Achilles tendinitis a few years ago and also a sprained ankle, very painful and crippling experiences. This was all before I started running mind you. I often wonder how I would have coped if that was in the middle of my running and parkrun journey and the answer is not very well, it would be heartbreaking if Iβm honest when we come so far in testing ourselves and reaching for the stars (medals) πππ
Oh Linda Iβm so sorry for hearing about your injuries, I donβt get on here much these days as I'm battling my own demons at the moment as you know but I do hope your heel heals in time for you to run the HMs you mention. Take care.
Great news ππππ We can all identify with that level of anxiety. We invest a lot of time effort and even passion in building up to these events, and it is all too easy to develop a show stopping injury at the last minute. Good sports physio, preferably a keen runner, pdq is the only answer. So pleased for you. ππ
Oh no, I must have missed your previous post. Why does it have to happen so close to our races π Youβll be fine without your last long run. You have done the distance before, so you know how to manage it. Good luck with the exercises and π€ for you xx
It is amazing how much better everything is looking compared to early last week! Thankfully it's improving every day and isn't stopping me from running. So pleased π
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Catching Up!
Passed the point of no return (but returned anyway), Garmin fankle and a Clydesdale horse. 