The Dreaded “I” word

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.

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.

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.