Well, Bones are OK, comes down to one or more of three tendons and without and MRI it’s hard to say which one. Doc says the treatment is the same regardless if which tendon so he didn’t want to do an MRI yet, immobilize, reduce stress, Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevate (RICE). For the next 10 days I cannot put any weight on the leg, Got to wear this awesome air cast, take a ton of Advil then we will see where I am at and start rehabbing it. If I still have the same level of pain in 10 days then it’s RI time and possibly more work. I also have a gnarly bone spur under the Achilles but it has never bothered me but it does explain why I can not stand shoes that rub the back of the foot. I joked about how it was good I didn’t sign up for a 10 miler in October and he said no problem, I’ll be back running by then. Man I hope so, I have a 50K goal this year.
A weekend long run, nothing spectacular but I am always proud of every long rubn
Last evening I decided it was time to tackle a truly impressive and challenging trail. It is called Sugarloaf Mt and I have hiked portions of the trail and remembered it being Hilly, rocky, rutted, bug infested, bears, sandy and about everything else. I ran the Yellow trail which is called the saddle loop because it loops around the mountain and climbs over a saddle between to 1100 foot peaks. I laugh at the term peaks used here since I am from Utah
As I prepared for the run I realized I left my Garmin at home. My first instinct was crap now I can’t run and the thought reapply pissed me off so I threw on the Nathan with the KSOs strapped to it and headed up the trail.
The run started out wonderful, I was barefoot and the first ½ mile was on a road, then I started into the trees and it was course rock, chipped rock and misery. I sucked it up for about another mile but there was no relief and then gave up and put on the KSOs. After that the running became an absolute pleasure. I really had no clue how fast or far I was running, I ran to feel good and enjoy the run and that was all, no benchmarks.
About 30 minutes in I heard a screeching growl sound and turned and this mangy looking raccoon was standing me down. As I moved it would face me and scream at me. It was puny and seemed to not be doing well. I got the heck out of there, the last thing I needed was a bite from a rabid raccoon.
Now the trail turned up the mountain and I knew it was turn back or suck it up and make the whole loop, this was a point of no return. I felt so good that I headed up the hill and made the climb. It was a 400 foot climb, nothing crazy but a real burner over the saddle and the trail became spectacular. Instead of an old fire road it was now a single-track with Boston ferns growing on both sides of the trail. This single-track wound through valleys and trees, it was absolutely stunning on top and several times I had a great view around the Maryland farm areas below.
Then I started down the other side and that is where it got ugly. The trail joined another old overgrown fire road that looked to have suffered a lot of damage and they hauled in ground slag and rock about the size of your fist to sure up the road. For the next 30 minute I was hot footing it over this crap until I thought my feet would scream. When I could, I would run the sides where leafs had filed up and padded the rocks. Then finally the fire road joined a gravel road and that was heaven. After a few minutes the trail took off into the trees again on a single track and this is where I saw the first bear warning sign. WARNING: a Bear and her cub have been sighted on the trail. Do not approach. Yikes, I am almost done, heading back into the woods and now they tell me.
The last 30 minutes was a nice trail of roots, dirt and an occasional rock and I let my guard down. At a creek crossing I came up the other side and stepped on what felt like a knife blade sticking out of the dirt. It was actually only a pointy rick about 2 inches tall covered in leaves but it went right into the pad of my foot between my 2nd and third toe and almost dropped me. The pain was insane and faded after about a minute but then I could feel a lump growing. I ran on but after about 10 minutes it was hurting and thank goodness I saw the end of the trail.
Today my foot is very tender to the tough in the pad area between the toes. I can’t see any visible swelling but to press causes an intense burning sensation and I feel I probably bruised the hell out of the foot there. Not the best way to end and otherwise stunning run.
Today I headed out to my favorite (I use the term favorite loosely) running hill. It is about 1/4 mile long and steep.
Historically and Shod I could burn up the hill maybe 6 times at a 7 min pace and was toast. I haven’t run the repeats now for a year. Last time I ran them on this hill in shoes I ended up with a really bad case of shin splints.
This time was different. I was a little scared of the possible injuries and add to that the idea of doing sprints on a hill BF and I was nervous. The first repeat was a cautious 7 min pace. Easy. The next 6 were upper 5′s and lower 6′s. Dang, I was impressed; I didn’t know I could run that fast. The last few were at a slower 7 again and after the urge to upchuck on the last three I called it a day.
I focused on form, pulling the feet, back straight and head high. It seemed to work. I do have slight hot spots in the balls of the feet but really nothing to be concerned about. Heck, If I tried these last fall, I would have been bloody.
Progress
So I want to try out a pair of huaraches but I really am a tight wad and didn't want to shell out cash unless I knew they were something I'd like. So, I tore the soles off an old pair of Margaretville flip flops that fit poorly, do a little trimming and walla! Designer huaraches!They are only about 3 mm thick sot ehre really isn't much and they feel odd. But then VFFs felt odd at firstStill have some trimming and fitting to do but I think it works. Gotta get me some leather straps though, the cord doesn't cut it.
via Runner Communities -barefoot running-designer huaraches its time: Runner’s World Forums.
Uncategorized | Scott Schneider | 
August 30, 2010 9:41 am | 
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