Big Weekend Leads to Big Problems

This last weekend was a big deal for me. Not only was it big volume (37 miles biking + 5k run Sat., and 18 miles running Sun.), but it felt pretty good. All except a little foot issue that I have been experiencing during my long runs. Sunday was a really good run. Muscularly, cardiovascularly I felt great. I felt like I could have gone 20+ miles if my FOOT wouldn't have bothered me. It wasn't even the foot that I was worried about. Over the past few weeks I have been struggling with pretty intense foot pain post run, and more recently during the runs. My right foot has hurt the most. I've been to my chiropractor who also specializes in sports medicine and foot problems, and he says that its basically extremely tight tissue, built up over years and years of trauma (i.e. training). Well, I guess it never decided to manifest into anything painful until I tried my hand at 15+ miles.

So, this last Sunday I was feeling pretty good, I wanted to test my feet, so I ran 18 miles ;) My right foot felt great! No pain or anything, not even the day after. My left foot...another story. Around mile 13 it started to hurt, I was able to finish. I probably should have stopped when I first felt it, but I'm stubborn and was not about to drop out of another long run while my running buddy finished the run. Well, I finished. Now I am experiencing the worst pain yet....on the positive side, it is only one foot....

Prognosis is that I have pretty severe lateral fasciitis. My chiro is doing more work on my legs and foot. I guess the deep tissue in my calves and lower leg are really bound up, and this translates down the leg into the foot causing tightness and pain. I'm hoping for positive results, and am seriously considering going to regular massage therapy, at least until I get through this Ironman.

I'm not bummed. Its not like I'm having this problem with 2 weeks to go before the big race. It does put a big question mark on the marathon I was hoping to do, but I'm leaving my options open. If I don't see significant improvement in a week to two weeks I won't do the marathon. I certainly won't be doing any long runs until I am confident that I can do them pain free.

Another positive...it doesn't hurt to swim or bike, so I will be seeing a fair share of the road and the lovely black line in the pool a little more than usual.

"Pain is just weakness leaving the body"