Thursday, July 11, 2013

Abort, Abort!

WorkoutFlattop

So, yeah, about my glorious return to running. It was a bit light on the "glory" and "running" and a bit heavy on the "realizing my ankle isn't healed enough to run on yet." In other words, a complete failure.

[Quick recap on the ankle situation for anyone who missed it: I tweaked it on the gravelly section of my marathon but didn't even realize it until a few days later when the soreness didn't disappear along with the rest of my post-marathon soreness. It seemed to return to normal, but then I re-tweaked it last week during a hike.]

I was totally pain-free on Sunday when I jogged on it for a bit, but when I woke up on Monday it was sore again. "Sore" sounds a bit strong, though. I didn't feel anything while walking, just when I rotated my ankle to either side. Still, it was disconcerting.

When I set out on my very first run back, I knew there was a possibility I'd have to cut it short, a suspicion that was confirmed roughly 5 steps in. I hoped against hope that it would stop hurting as I warmed up, but after a total of a mile (a glorious mile, might I add!), I yelled at myself for being an idiot and walked back to my car.

If you ever find yourself short on motivation to run, try injuring yourself. It's the best motivation ever. Now that I can't run, it's all I want to do. I'm filling the void with hiking (which, okay, maybe I shouldn't be doing, but it only hurts very slightly on uphills, plus there's NO WAY I'm staying away from my beloved mountains before I move to Oregon), which is great but just not a comparable workout. I spent much of today's hike out of breath, but as soon as I finished I didn't feel like I had done anything at all. As strange as it sounds, I miss being tired!

And no, as of right now I'm not planning to see a doctor. I have extreme doctor trust issues resulting from doctor fail ("Oh, you've got a 105.2 degree fever and you're here in the emergency room? It's just the flu, you don't need antibiotics, even though your fever's been over 104 degrees for four days straight. That'll be $1,200 for your IV fluids, please") after doctor fail ("You show all the symptoms of a stress fracture and no symptoms of plantar fasciitis but I'm going to go ahead and diagnose you with the latter for now") after doctor fail ("Your iron levels aren't low, you're just stressed out"). This could well be a dumb decision, but it's one I take full responsibility for. Deal with it.

Anyway, enough pouting. I think blogs about injuries are boring, and I also think that people don't really like reading about hikes (pretty though they may be), so I may or may not lay low until I'm up and running again.

Let's end this on a happy note and look at some photos from today and Tuesday.

Summer/winter comparison:



This idiot of a dog chased a rolling rock halfway down the wrong side of the mountain. She was so hot by the time she made it back up that I had to give her the rest of my water and sit for like 10 minutes while she recovered. She seemed rather pleased with herself.

 It's called Flattop for a reason.

From Tuesday.

Happy running!

15 comments:

  1. Awe. Bailey. Is she going to OR with you? Have you found a dog-friendly place to live? Surely y'all will be able to find awesome (though maybe not as magnificent as Alaska) mountains in Oregon.
    Way to go on being ultra-conservative about the injury. I am usually ok with minor aches and pains, but some things do freak me out that I only feel here and there but that are recurring. I want to see a Jogging Jean-o comeback and crush that 2 hour half. Heal fast, JJ, heal fast!

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    1. Sadly, Bailey will be staying here :'(. She's technically my "sister," but my parents let me take her with me when I moved out (I was living with them when I first moved back) because a) I begged them to, and b) I walk her way more than they ever did. I honestly think I'll miss her more than anyone else when I leave! I'm planning on getting a dog as soon as I have an idea of what grad school's like and have the time/resources to do so (so, it may be a while). I can only hope she'll be as "special" (aka dumb) as Bailey.

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  2. Oh, dear. Heal up! And if you want a first (not MD, but pretty well versed running coach) opinion, shoot me an email with exactly where/how/when it hurts, in as much gory detail as you can muster.

    Or, just rest and throw some heat on it when you can stand to.

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    1. Thanks, Holly! I really do appreciate it. I was considering taking you up on your kind offer, but then the ankle suddenly started feeling better! You must have healed me via ESP or something.

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  3. RICE the ankle!

    I know what you mean---when you can't run, you want to run so badly! So frustrating.
    Seriously----you live in the most beautiful place ever!

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    1. Thanks, and don't I know it! Funny it took me almost twenty years to realize that (people born and raised here often don't think anything of it).

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  4. I could visit your blog just for the great photos!!!

    Have you looked into home therapy exercises for it? Like using a towel to stretch it, ankle lifts, ice.

    I get antsy just hearing you not being able to run *Shudder*

    Have a good weekend!

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    1. Thanks, no, sorry, and thanks again! I may have considered "home therapy," but it seems to be in pretty good shape now (knock on wood).

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  5. Doctor's are the WORST. My biggest MD fail was when I went to them with horrendous, paralyzing back pain, peeing blood, vomiting, fever, you name it...and they told me I had a urinary tract infection. HUH? A day later I was hospitalized with massive kidney stones that were blocking everything. Dumb doctors! I bet if you went, they'd make you pay $930923 for them to say "put some ice on it, it should heal soon!" Jerks.

    But I do hope it feels better soon so Jean-o can RUNNNN again!

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    1. Ahahahaha, what assholes. I have tremendous respect for anyone who makes it through med school, but even with all the advancements the medical field has made, I have very little faith.

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  6. It is less fun to blog about and read about injury! I totally agree. Wonderful photos! Hope your ankle heals soon!

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    1. Thanks ma'am, and thanks for stopping by! And you've confirmed my suspicions-no blogging about injuries in the future!

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  7. Wow those pictures are amazing! Your puppy dog chasing a rolling rock halfway down the wrong side of the mountain cracks me up. But it's things like that, that make us love them so much.

    I hear you on the injury thing- I've been through a stress fracture injury (P.S. Don't try to push through shin splints. It doesn't work) and all I wanted to do was run. Yet there are always days when I am injury-free and able to run and find myself lacking motivation.

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    1. Thanks! And yes, she's kind of an idiot. An adorable idiot.

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  8. Is Bailey coming with you to Oregon? I hope so.

    Doctors are quite lame, it's true. I think just rest is all they would tell you to do anyways. The good news is that even though you are now itching to run, you don't have anything you HAVE to get out and train for (except that half you want to run), so always better to play it safe than sorry.

    Plus, you're right, you should totally soak in ALL the hiking you can possibly do!! Gorgeous!!

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