Running hurt

As far as I remember, the pain started off slowly, sort-of a nagging thing that got progressively worse as I ran more and more. I was running more to get into shape for my upcoming Naval Deployment to Afghanistan. The necessity to get in shape was really two-fold: 1. I needed to lower my weight and get my CVS somewhere around "not-like-a-fat-guy's" level. 2. I have/had hypertension that I was trying to lower on my own with diet and exercise (two things that were pretty much non-existant at that time).

I started off on Mastodon Trail doing 2-3 miles a day from day one. Little did a realize that I was starting way too fast. But such is my mindset, stop and go. I developed a pain in a localized area that I hoped to be shin splints but felt nothing like the shin splints I've ever had. I attempted to "run through" the pain, a solution that obviously did more harm than good. It kept hurting and I kept running. It never was a pain that prevented me from running. It was more of a nuisance than a prohibitor and I was determined to not let it slow me down. I knew the only real solution was rest but it wasn't an option for me at the time.

So, fast forward about 3 months and a trip to the Doctor was scheduled. Egon gave me the name of an excellent Orthopedic doctor named Frank Thomas. The visit went as expected; no signs of a stress fracture from the xrays, rest as the first step to recovery, and my heel chords are super tight. The prescription was a trip to therapy two to three times a week to "vigorously" stretch out my heel chords and to ensure that I have one pain free week before attempting to run again. After which, I can start slowly as I should have done from the beginning.

One trip to the therapist later and I'm on a stretching schedule to get me more limber. Dr. Thomas did say that he sees a lot of people come in with my type of pain that have really tight heel chords. An interesting correlation and one that certainly motivates me to stretch more.

I did a run today in my neighborhood and fully intended to run only about 1/2 or 3/4 mile but it ended up being about 1 mile. As well as far as I can tell. Tomorrow will give me a better indication of whether or not I tweaked it again. Wish me fast healing.

Jeremy