Prepare for excessive jealousy!

I have new shoes! And they are freaking awesome!

Cute, huh? So, here is the un-jealous part. which I've already told you. I think I'm going to lose at least one toenail. Well, it's loose. But it's not black. So the internets are telling me that it may stay attached to the nail bed. Black is the kiss of death. When I got those insoles I told my helper that my shoes felt smaller. And he....well, he wasn't too invested in helping much. I really should have gotten new shoes that day but I figured if I mentioned they felt smaller and he didn't seem too worried then I was OK. But, yes, I'm responsible for myself! My fault. I'm mostly just sharing my reasoning. Anyway, clearly they were too small. And, this morning, I did not run. I walked again. But I knew that I would not be able to run in my shoes (the Mizunos I ran the marathon in, or my Nike Frees). It just hurt too much. So I went over to Road Runner today and ended up with 3 really awesome helpers. Guy one was with Shoe Dog and I talked to him first. I explained my situation and he said, "You're absolutely right. You need bigger shoes. Let me get you to Antonio. He can help you with the shoes. But I want you to see me before you leave. Because I'm concerned that your current insoles will be too short for a bigger shoe. I want to check because I'll just make you a new pair if that turns out to be the case." Then Antonio helped me with my shoes. Note: 2 pm is the time to go! I tried on 4 different pairs and ended up getting the same Mizuno shoes as I've had the last two times - just a half size bigger and a WAY more awesome color! I told Antonio that I thought my insoles seemed to fit fine and he put his hand in my shoe and said, "No. They don't." My initial Shoe Dog guy was gone but the guy that helped me with the new insoles is the guy that Antonio said travels the country teaching everyone how to make them. And he agreed with Antonio that I needed new ones for my new shoes. So he made them and just switched them out for the other ones I had made just a few short weeks ago. So. Lots of drama we have with running, huh? Like sands through the hour glass! I'm going to try and run a couple of miles tomorrow.

Dr. Visit Email

This is just a rehash of the email I sent you - for posterity's sake! I did go to the doctor and I didn't learn much. She wants me to see a sports medicine person, but that's going to take weeks. Bit she said that it is just a pretty serious strain, not ruptured of anything. I'm doing all the right thins by od'ing on ibuprofen , Icing, wrapping with an ace bandage. She said I should try heat, too. And rest. HA. One day off is torture already!!! I did ask her about acupuncture and she was very for giving it a try. So I'm going tomorrow! New experience! I'm going to the lady Bart used when he had that terrible tendinitis in his back. Oh, she also mentioned that it could be the it band and I should do some stretching. So, no quick fix.

And ouch!

So. Yeah. I'm going to the doctor tomorrow. My left quad is just all torn up. I had this big plan to get up at 4 all week so I could do 10 mile runs before work. And I started it today but, around mile 8.5, I didn't think I was going to make it. I probably should have walked. But, hey, we ignore pain here, right? And I would continue to do so, believe you me! But there is no way I could run a marathon in this condition. Basically I want to know if I've done serious damage or if this is just a strain. Do I need to take time off? If so, how much? I think that I could still be successful even if I took a couple of weeks off. But I really don't want to. Nor do I want to ditch my insoles because my right side is feeling so good. Doctor at 11:40 am tomorrow. I will report back! I've been taking (probably) poisonous levels of ibuprofen all day, icing, using menthol patches, and wrapping with an ace bandage. Probably should have started all this on Saturday.

Weekend Roundup

I can't believe I forgot to post! Because I actually did do stuff! I ran both Saturday and Sunday. 5 on Saturday and 4 on Sunday. By the time I hit the road on Sunday, it was very late and it was cool but humid. So I didn't really feel like going further. I will say that my right foot has been aching a lot this weekend. I may look into some running arch supports. I have to go to work really early today and I may go to the gym after work, but I doubt it. In other health news, I am going to the dentist at 10:30 am. No problems to report, just a checkup. I need to make an appointment with my eye doctor, too. I've been getting a lot of headaches. They are not crazy intense but I wonder if my eyes are changing a bit. Or if staring at a computer screen is finally taking it's toll. A new thing I have been doing is drinking smoothies! My best concoction thus far was chard, beet (raw), pineapple, strawberries, and coconut water (just a bit). It is no chocolate milkshake, but they have been pretty tasty! I just got to thinking that the Green Fix that I was getting at the FM was so pricey, why can't I make my own? And the answer is, I can! I've also made a smoothie using kale and yesterday I bought some spinach to try out.

Weekend

Why are weekends soooo short? I mean, I realize they do consist of two days while the week is made up of 5. But the week actually feels like 50 days and the weekend feels like 50 seconds!

I did not run yesterday. I was just really sore and figured a day off would serve me well. We did go to the batting cages, though. It sure has been some time! And I can tell. SORE!

I ran today. Used my new iPod and it worked just fine. I ran 6.62 miles today. I only have 345.7 miles left to go on my goal!

I have a roast marinating tonight and I'll stick it in the crock pot tomorrow morning. I have some other easy things for the week. I imagine I'll be working a lot due to this filing deadline, so I'm trying to make my life easier.

Well, my foot still isn't 100%. So I bought some arch wraps. These:

http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/PRO004/

So far I like them. My foot didn't bother me at all during my run. I also got a sleep sock and I HATE IT!!! I am taking it back. It is like an oven! I don't know what I was thinking - seriously, the dang thing is practically made out of velvet or something! I'll get a different one that is more "sock-y".

P.S. I bought a new scale. I have decided that I can't possibly weigh so much. It must be the scale. Geeze, I hope this is true.

Being Responsible

I really thought....well, hoped, that these two weeks off would resolve this foot issue. No luck. Honestly, I felt it Monday. So I decided to call my doctor and make an appointment. And, luckily, I was able to get in today! I've already emailed you this, but here it is for posterity's sake:

Well, she thinks it is just an irritated tendon. Keep icing and take 800 mg of ibuprofen every 8 hours. She sent me for an xray to rule out a fracture (from that fall I took which immediately preceded this injury). Hopefully that will be clear. If so, we will let ice and ibuprofen take care of it. If it is still an issue - at this level or worse - in a week, I'll see a podiatrist.

So, we'll see! I never take medicine, so I bet the ibuprofen will make a big difference for me! We talked about cortisone, but I'm not interested in that now. This is more of an irritation then agony. It is like living with a tween (tiny painful!) verses a teen (giant painful!). Or a level 5 spice (out of 10). Enough to feel it, not enough to make you hate life the next day!

I did run this morning. And I was, as usual, sooo happy to be back out there. Took a few seconds off of Monday's time. I'll keep plugging away!

I sure can feel the bands that I did yesterday. Sore!

I did pushups and abs this am, too. Then Jessica and I met for a walk at the zoo. Super fun! So a good day.

I weighed two pounds more today then I did the last time I was at the doctor!!!

WOO HOO!!!!

Yay Dad!!! I'm so excited that you have the walking cast off! Will you burn it?

Have fun out there!