30. March 2017 · 2 comments · Categories: injury · Tags: ,

Hello and happy humpday! I should be hiking with my hiking friends tonight but alas I’m still limping along and had to back out for the 2nd week in a row! #beingadramaqueen

Yesterday I went to my primary doc mostly just as protocol for me to have authorization to see the foot doctor today. She said the nodule under my toe was probably a ganglion cyst and that the foot doc would probably aspirate it. She said I shouldn’t worry about the bluish color, but I left there feeling quite unconvinced. After spending too much time looking at those type of cysts online, mine looked nothing like that. And I knew that the bluish color had to mean something.

Anyway, today I saw the foot doc. IMG_8654He pushed on the lump and I winced in agony it hurt so bad. He said it was definitely NOT a ganglion cyst as it wasn’t fluid filled. He immediate said I need to get an MRI to determine what it was. He felt the bluish color meant something vascular but wouldn’t say more. He also said “nothing to be worried about”. Although that really doesn’t comfort me for the time being because I’m still limping and now have to wait first for the authorization for my MRI to come through (I’m told Friday) and then I’ll have to make an appointment for the MRI.

This is all just too bizarre for me. I’m almost done with my pity party. IMG_8643

Going to try riding my bike tomorrow to “sweat out the small stuff”.

After two days of rain I decided I’d just limp around the park with Duncan after I came home from the foot doc.

we took it slow. he's such a patient pup

we took it slow. he’s such a patient pup

Yesterday the poor thing was so bored that I took him to the pet store just to get him out of the house for a bit. IMG_8651So that’s my toe update. It still hurts, I’m still limping and feeling fairly frustrated. But it’s small potatoes right?

 

I want to start this post by saying I am so grateful to be healthy in the big picture. My friend’s husband was diagnosed with ALS a few years ago and has lost the ability to do major things like walk, talk or even type with his fingers. He is currently using his EYES to type! I cannot even imagine.

So it sounds ridiculous that I’m going to post about my toe but here we go…

I had two great runs back to back this past weekend. Friday I wore a new pair of sneakers and enjoyed running with very little discomfort from my hamstrings.

New sneakers....old snow

New sneakers….old snow

I was so happy to feel like I had pep in my step that Saturday I went out again for what was supposed to be 3 miles but I felt so good I went on to cover almost 5.5 miles.

Best run I've had all year!

Best run I’ve had all year!

It was the biggest emotional boost to finally feel improvement. It could have been the new sneakers or the fact that all my diligence with strengthening my hamstrings, glutes, adductors and hips was paying off. All I know is that I was so happy.

However, I felt my toes on my left foot getting tingly and numb while running and thought maybe the new sneakers were tied too tight or hadn’t been broken in enough but really paid little mind. By Saturday evening I felt a little more discomfort and started to avoid putting too much weight on my toe. Same thing with Sunday. It felt like a bruise under the toe between the middle joint and the ball of my foot (metatarsal head).

Yesterday, after a crappy workday I decided to go out for a run. I wanted to just de-stress. I started with some foam rolling. IMG_8591

Duncan joined me.

Duncan joined me.

Well it wasn’t pretty and the toe pain got worse until I limped home after covering 3/4 of a mile.

WTF???

WTF???

Interestingly the toe is the same one that I banged on my trampoline a couple months ago and lost part of the toe nail. I first thought maybe it was a fracture. Maybe I injured it more than I thought when I banged it and eventually the pounding of running fractured it. But today I found that as I loosened up my hamstrings and calves on the foam roller and with some stretching the pain in my toe decreased. It turned into more of a pins and needles thing. (I’ve been icing it too).

After researching the internet on and off all day I’ve (foolishly and stubbornly) decided to diagnose myself with either bursitis, capsulitis or Morton’s Neuroma. Any which way you slice it the problem is that there is inflammation. I hate inflammation! Inflammation is a four letter word to me.

How could I go from a happy and feeling great run to limping? I’m walking normally today thanks to some makeshift padding around the metatarsal head. And I’m PRAYING that it calms down 100 percent for Sunday’s race.

So for now I’m just going to remain calm.

In other news…the dogs are still as adorable as ever.

book ends

book ends

How are you? What’s new?

I love how I always manage to rise back up from my negative ramblings and find my happy again. I was so down on myself after my last run (and post) and feeling the dread of not being able to keep up with my training. Today I was scheduled for a long run of 12 miles. But I had this “Sallyllama” (think Dalilama but since I love llamas….well you get it.) moment. Why am I forcing myself to stick to a schedule that was created based on a healthy runner when I’m currently dealing with some compromising injuries? So I took 30 minutes to foam roll and stretch and then set out for whatever my body could handle today knowing I’m off all next week and could re-attempt a long run at some point then.

How many miles will you take me today?

How many miles will you take me today?

Well whaddya know? The stretching and foam rolling helped get me out the door with more mobility and less achy-ness and the run seemed so much more enjoyable.

I also wore some compression shorts under my skirt and it’s built in shorts to help support my hamstring.

IMG_7452I decided I’d stop running while I was still feeling good and that reminded me of the way I was taught to train Duncan. Always end a training session on a positive note. If we worked hard to get “roll over” right and it wasn’t working, I’d have him do a perfect sit/stay and then reward him with a treat and some lovin’ and that would be the end of the training for the day.

IMG_7454So here’s my advice to myself and to anyone reading whoever feels like their struggling with keeping to their training. Just train like a puppy. Make sure you’re prepared/healthy/and eager for your training sessions. Know what goals are truly attainable. Don’t try for the roll-over if your only able to complete the sit/stay. 🙂

I’m going to try again Monday for that 12-miler but at least for today my body was capable of 3ish miles and my knee, hamstring, and even my back are feeling better than they did before I went for my run. Getting the blood pumping is a very important part of recovery. (Of course I should say that I’m just a blogger and not a doctor).

Speaking of puppy, I took Duncan to the vet today.

IMG_7456He’s had this weird skin thing on the base of his tail that worried me. I was relieved to hear it’s just a benign skin condition that’s sort of like having blackheads. HA! My boy needs Stridex pads. The vet said it’s called Stud Tail. Duncan was happy at least it had a good name because he’s embarrassed to have tail acne.

IMG_7464

We enjoyed a little walk before the temps reached the 90s and now we’re just chillin for a bit before I go out for a bit.

this never gets old. love him!

this never gets old. love him!

no makeup necessary in the woods

no makeup necessary in the woods

Oh and yesterday I celebrated one year since bringing home my Subaru Forester and saying goodby to my beloved Jeep Liberty.

Cheesy I just bought a car look!

Cheesy I just bought a car look!

The first thing I did after the purchase was put my marathon magnet on the back!

The first thing I did after the purchase was put my marathon magnet on the back!

Yup. She died on the way to the dealership. Had to be towed for the trade-in.

Yup. She died on the way to the dealership. Had to be towed for the trade-in.

Here’s to a wonderful weekend y’all.

What are you up to? Doing anything fun? What’s on your running schedule? 

 

First let’s just look at some adorable Duncan photos…

He literally got woo'd away from chewing on the bone when I started giving him a belly rub....with my foot!

He literally got woo’d away from chewing on the bone when I started giving him a belly rub….with my foot!

Nap on the bone

Nap on the bone

Tug it Thursday

Tug it Thursday

Tongue out Thursday

Tongue out Thursday

OK now to my ramblings….so I’ve been skipping out on at least one mid-week run each week. I’m always finding excuses. Injury, weather, being tired, not wanting to leave the dog. Well some of them are valid to a point but I really am just not trying hard enough here and i know it. I’ve been so frustrated with my injuries and I’m having yet a hard time AGAIN trying to remind myself that it’s never one and done. Let me explain…

When the hubby died, I sort of decided in my head that I was exempt from any further tragedy.  Obviously I know that’s ridiculous. Well, for some reason my ridiculous notion of being exempt tends to stick in my head with running injuries too. Last July I had to drop back to the half at the San Francisco Marathon because of injury so I thought I had my “one and done” and I’d be exempt from having any other injuries or compromised marathons/marathon training. Nope. Then came the NJ Marathon this past April. I barely got enough training in because of more injuries. I assumed I’d take a couple of months off and start my NYC Marathon training strong and healthy and that this would be my chance to finally have a full marathon training cycle injury free. And here I am injured and frustrated (especially because it’s due to a cartwheel and not from running!) with little energy or enjoyment from my runs. I’m just shuffling through them (although I was super happy to see my friends this past Saturday and that helped make up for the fact I was shuffling and hurting).

So today I finally got a run in.

5 with the isn-factor

5 with the isn-factor

Since I skipped my Tuesday 4-miler and today I was supposed to do 5, I decided to go with the ish-factor and stopped at 4.75 and just walked it in for the last 1/4 mile.

Next up is supposed to be a 12 mile long run this weekend. Hmmm…I guess I’ll play that one by ear.

Switching gears. I received a great piece of equipment in the mail a few weeks ago from TKO—a soft grip jump rope. (While this was given to me at no-cost my opinions are my own.)

TKO soft grip jump rope

TKO soft grip jump rope

First let me just say I LOVE the color combo (Glacier+Lemon). There are so many great reasons to have a jump rope…

1. It’s portable! You can shove it in your suitcase and travel with it. (Perfect timing….i’ll be traveling next week!)

2. You can burn 170 calories in just 15 minutes! That’s insane.

3. It’s great for at-home cardio. Whether working from home, being snowed-in, or maybe you’re waiting for the cable guy and can’t leave the house you can get in a quick sweat-sesh.

4. You can take it outside in the yard while the dogs or children are running around.

5. A jump rope is great to incorporate into a high-interval training program. And this is something I really want to do. I now want to buy some yellow and blue free weights and resistance bands to match. 🙂

6. Most of all, it’s a super inexpensive piece of exercise equipment. (Amazon seems to have the best price. You can get it here for less than $15.)

This particular model has metal ball-bearings so the rope doesn’t tangle or twist. It’s 9 feet in length. The soft grip handles make it easier to keep a firm grasp on them.

IMG_7435

What is your favorite inexpensive piece of gym equipment?

Do you skip workouts?