Elasticity

I think I might have a acquired me a touch of the ol' plantar fasciitis.

Last fall, I was really optimistic about my 2014 running schedule. I had reached 30 miles per week, was feeling great, and was pleased with the results of the physical therapy treatments on my ankle.

But then came winter, followed by an unbroken string of stressful proposals and other grueling workplace challenges thrust upon me by my merciless corporate overlords. While I am (occasionally) capable of short bursts of productivity, I don't seem to respond well to uninterrupted months of high-performance indenture. A creative fellow such as myself needs time to recharge by staring out the window, going for hikes on the weekends, watching schlocky movies...and exercising outdoors in mild and comforting weather.

In short, I feel that for the past 5 months, Mother Nature and the guys who sign my paychecks have conspired to make it very difficult for a guy like me to stay in shape. I have eaten too much, exercised too little, and dreamt of batteries and fuel cells -- rather than the preferred topics of bikini hot tubs and rock n' roll.

Sigh.

Anyway, a few weeks ago, I finally had a chance to go for a Waterton run in pleasant temperatures under a bright blue sky. I felt good, got inspired, and ran hard. It was the first time I had finished a 10K in under an hour in quite some time, and I was quite pleased with myself. But then my feet started to hurt.

At first, I thought it was simple bruising from the impact I endured from running at such a high speed. [Note to my athlete friends: I know that a 1-hour 10K is unforgivably pitiful by your standards, but for me, it's like being possessed by Paavo Nurmi. So please keep your snide comments to yourselves. Thanks.] But a few days of rest did not release the pain as it would've if it were mere bruising.

I have ignored the symptoms as much as I could, and have had a week of pretty good workouts -- including some fast (for me) running. But sometimes, it hurts just to stand on my tootsies. I finally decided to look on the internet.

Wikipedia blames plantar fasciitis on obesity and decreased dorsiflexion, both of which I have in abundance. Old age is probably another contributing factor. Recommended treatments include rolling your foot on a ball, and stretching. Hence the connection with the graphic at the top of this post.

No, I probably won't take a yoga class. (They don't seem to offer the free ones at 24-Hr Fitness anymore.) But I am trying to do a few poses in my spare time. And it appears that work will be mellowing out a bit over the next few weeks, so I might have the energy to work on my flexibility when I get home in the evenings.

I would appreciate your support, and perhaps even the occasional reminder to get up out of my chair and try some toe touches. And it probably wouldn't hurt me if you slapped my hand each time I reach for that extra taco at dinnertime. I still have a few months before the Milwaukee triathlon, so there is hope that I can recover enough to not embarrass myself.

OK, I'm off to dorsiflex myself into a good night's sleep. Have a great day, and pleasant dreams!