Weekly Rundown- The Mile
Hello! Welcome! One thing I can say around here is, no two weeks are the same. I got the results of my MRI and made some adjustments to my routine… read on! I’m linking up with Kim and Deborah for this weekly rundown. Let’s get started! Monday I did a 30 minute yoga flow class with my favorite, Denis Morton on the Peloton app in the morning. THEN, I CALLED THE DOCTOR. Rewind to last week… the doctor never called me with the results of the MRI I had on Wednesday. They seemed to feel that it was perfectly natural that I would be calling them (instead of the other way around, ahem) and the doctor told me… that there’s basically nothing wrong, other than the thickened plantar fascia. Even worse than the heel pain is the pain I’m feeling on the side of my foot. They even put a little marker on the spot when I had the MRI to make sure the radiologist looked at that area. So I was initially frustrated that nothing showed up. My doctor said he wanted to go ahead with PRP injections, but I decided it’s time for a new doctor. My current doctor is a sports chiropractor and he’s doing his best, but I want a podiatrist. I got a recommendation (he’s a runner!) and made the first appointment I could get, which is October 19th. In the meantime… Tuesday I started the day with a 2.5 mile walk. I just couldn’t face another pool run- I wanted to be moving forward. After the walk I did a 20 minute power yoga class (all classes this week were on the Peloton app with Denis Morton) and then in the afternoon, did a 30 minute slow flow class. Wednesday Started the day with a 60 minutes yoga flow class. Then… In the afternoon I went for a “walk.” Now, when I go for a “walk,” and I’m wearing my running clothes and shoes, what I really mean is, I’m going out for a brisk walk, BUT, if everything feels okay, I’ll probably break into a run. And that’s what I did! I walked one mile, and then decided my foot was feeling up to a little running. I ran a mile back home. AND IT FELT AMAZING. It’s funny what a difference one little mile makes. Just that short run boosted my mood tremendously. My digestion had been feeling off all week, and that run got it back on track. Thursday I did a 45 minute yoga flow in the morning. My foot hurt, but you know what? I don’t care. I had an MRI and there’s no damage to any bones, tendons, or ligaments. The current flare up seems to have calmed down, and I’m back to the usual heel pain. I might as well run, at least a little, until I see the doctor. Friday Did another 1 mile walk/1 mile run in the morning. This time it felt okay while I was running but the pain returned to the outside of my foot afterwards. Actually it hurt in a completely different place- I would love to know why, but I’ve learned not to ask that type of question. Again, I was just happy to run at all. Flashback to high school PE. I grew up in Illinois where it was a state law that everyone had PE, every single school day, K-12. That was fun in elementary school, but got worse and worse the older we got, particularly for us un-athletic teenagers. One dreaded event was when we had to run “the mile.” This occurred twice freshman year, and sporadically throughout the rest of high school. We ran on an indoor track which was 1/10 of a mile long. Ten times around that track was absolute torture. So funny to think of that now, when I’m begging and pleading the universe to “just let me run one mile” so I can feel better! After running “the mile” I did one of my favorite 20 minute power yoga classes- lots of lower body strength work. Saturday Did a 45 minute “slow flow” class in the morning. Until this week I avoided the slow flow classes, but now I’m really liking them. Taking more time in the poses does not make it easy! As Denis said “Just because we’re going slow doesn’t mean we’re not sweating..” In the afternoon I did two focus flow classes, recommended by Deborah in her last post, “The Best Peloton Yoga Classes for Runners.” I loved the hamstring focus because it was strength as well as flexibility, and the hip flow, well… it had my favorite pose! Funny thing- some of my muscles are so tight, I have to really modify a lot of poses. I can’t even think about doing the full pigeon, for example. But I am a pro at lizard pose- don’t ask me why. I always get happy when Denis says we’re going to do it- yes! Something I’m good at. Sunday I ran! This time I walked one mile and ran two miles!!! If the “me” of a year ago had looked at my current training log I would be like, what in the world???? Why am I running a mile? Why is my Sunday run only two miles? And what is up with all the YOGA??? Ha ha… times change, don’t they. My foot felt pretty good on this run, but I’m not fooling myself… I’m just managing the situation as best I can until I see the doctor. Running one or two miles feels way better than not running at all, so I’m going with it. Later on today I’ll be doing yoga… of course. And now… I’m watching the Chicago Marathon! Go Sara! Go Emma! Go Galen! I’m so excited for everyone running today. Are you watching the marathon? Who are you rooting for? Did you like PE in high school?