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The bane of ever
runner’s existing, the dreaded “I” word.
No, not Intervals, I am referring to Injury. While I have been lucky enough to rarely have
to deal with anything worse than occasionally blister, it does happen, and is
usually self-inflicted. Last week was
true to form, I had no one to blame but myself.
A couple of nights a week, I take my daughter to dance
class. I discovered a 3 to 4 mile loop
that is just right length for me to complete during her class. Since her class is in the evening, I need to
bring a headlamp along in addition to the usual running gear. Last
week I was running late to get us out the door, and I forgot to bring my light. I
thought it would not be a problem since it was near full moon and I know the
course well. Cue dramatic music, because
I was wrong.
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| Please ignore my sock tan |
Much of the loop is on a mix of direct and sidewalk through wooded
area through/around housing development.
I was making decent time when I
reached the halfway point and failed to notice where I was placing my
foot. I slammed it down half on the
sidewalk, half in a washout. Immediately
a shooting pain from my foot dropped me, literally, in my tracks. I hope no little kids were in earshot as I
let loose a string of profanities that rhymes with fire truck. I still
had two miles to go in 15 minutes in order to get back before my daughter’s dance
class ended. First step (pun intended)
was to see if I could walk. Success, but
a bit tentative. After a few more steps,
I was figured out fast walk/shuffle that seemed to work okay. Combining that with a few shortcuts and I
was able to get back in time.
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| Band Aids mark spot stupidity |
After getting home, I went for the two other “I” words, vitamin
I (Ibuprofen) and Ice. I took a week off
from running, switching over to non-impact exercise such as swimming. Finally, last weekend, I was able to get a
‘short’ 8 miles in on high school track.
Two weeks later, I will return to
the scene of the crime and try again, but this time with headlamp.
In hope of magic cure, I went to my visit my son's chiropractor, Dr. Kathy at Positively Chiropractric. She is avid triathlete and extreme sport aficionado, so I knew she would not give me a default answer of "rest and wait". Sure enough, two trips and some helpful exercises, she had me back on feet, literally.
