The recovery from injury continues. I thought I was just dealing with plantar fasciitis, but the pain was getting worse. So on MondayI had an x-ray taken, and sure enough, I have a calcaneal stress fracture. A stress fracture is a tiny crack in the bone, usually due to overuse, but it is still a fracture. I can tolerate walking, but no pounding from running or jumping. If I still had a lot of pain walking, I would have to be on crutches. I still have plantar fasciitis as well, but progressed also to a stress fracture.
The pain on the side of the heel is what was getting worse, and the Turkey Day 5k tipped me over the edge. I was limping for the next 3 days, so that is why I decided to get the x-ray. I cannot run for 4-6 weeks, and then will re-x-ray, and go from there. For someone whose favorite sport is running, this is very tough for me. Wednesdays and Sundays are gonna be the toughest. Those are the days run club meets for runs, and I cannot go. These run club days are not just about running, but they are a very important social time. It is forcing me to learn how to swim. No longer can I use the “Reiffenberger stroke” during the triathlon…stand up and run like hell! Some of the guys from run club meet multiple times a week to swim, so that is helping me get pushed out the door. Jason has been great with tips on swimming, and telling me about some you tube videos to help teach swimming, so I am learning about how to do this better. The first picture, and the next one, were me swimming this Summer in a mini-triathlon.
My stroke may not be too bad, but my head is not in the water! This is such foreign territory to me. I do not have to think about breathing while I run or bike, but I have to think about breathing with every stroke swimming. This injury is finally forcing me to get into the pool more often, and truly learn how to do it right. In the long run, this will be good for me. I am realizing already that even though I have not made it a full week off yet, how much I miss running!
The Wellness Center pool is great to go to, and for those of you who swim, or want to learn to swim better, take advantage of this. The only way things are going to improve is by doing it. I am eating my own words as I type this all out. I am just not a swimmer. My daughter Megan is a swimmer, and if I could swim half as well as her, there would be no stopping me. She is learning to run more, so I guess I can learn to swim. I can keep my exercise streak going as well. So bottom line, “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright!” Make no mistake, running is still my favorite sport…and always will be! I have to keep referencing my son’s shirt that he has. It pretty much sums it up!
Yep! Not running sucks! I have to find other alternatives instead of running. So besides swimming, I am on the stationary bike, and have been all this week. Next week I will try alternating with the elliptical. It still has more of a running motion, but not as much direct pounding. I purposely laid off of it this week to try and really let this calm down.
If nothing else it is teaching me to be patient. There are other alternatives of doing exercise, and ones that can be done when you are injured. Just because of an injury does not necessarily mean you can’t do anything. That would just be another excuse. We all otherwise have plenty of excuses not to exercise. It is time to come up with excuses to exercise, including different ways of performing exercise. In the long run it will make me appreciate running even more. To all of my run club friends…hold down the fort while I am unable to be there. I may not be there physically, but I am definitely there in spirit, and wishing I was! Keep going. Just remember, even on those cold days, wind blowing, rainy or snowy days, even a bad day running is better than not running. I would trade any of this to be back out running with all of you. Hopefully I will continue to stay in running shape so I can pick up where I left off. And…learn how to swim in the process. We all have things we don’t know, or need to learn about, so take advantage of those times when they come. Things happen for a reason. Keep your head up…in this case with swimming, keep my head down…and keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 4085
