Injuries



Running the Flying Pig 10k with my leg covered in KT tape
for an IT Band injury

Injuries stink.  Since I began running I have had my share of injuries.  Some of them were quick and easy to fix, annoying but nothing that would stop me from running long term.  Then I have had those injuries that stop me dead in my tracks.  Ones that have stopped me from running a single step for weeks to months at a time.

I know that running, heck exercising in general, can lead to both great health benefits and great injuries.  That is a part of the sport.  It doesn't stop them from being infuriating.

The two worst injuries I have had were stress fractures and, my current injury, plantar fasciitis (I also know that when you are in the midst of an injury it seems worse than other past injuries, but I'm blogging now so it's going onto my worst list).

My stress fractures occurred during the 2012 Columbus Half Marathon.  I had not kept up with my training and I was wearing practically brand new shoes (biggest mistake ever) and they weren't just new, they were a new style that I had never worn before.  This caused my 2nd, 3rd, and 4th metatarsals to have stress fractures, my 3rd eventually became a full fracture.  I didn't realize what had happened, don't ask me how I didn't notice broken bones, so I kept running.  I got a bit sore from time to time and my leg and foot hurt badly at times so I would take some time off, rest, then run again when feeling better until it hurt again.  I didn't suspect anything until I felt like I was dragging my left foot when I ran.  October 2012 to March 2013 is how long it took me to see a doctor about this issue.  That's how long I ran on a broken foot.  After I got the diagnosis I was stuck in a boot for about 8 weeks including weaning my body off the boot.  That was a long time where I could not run and it was torturous.  (Yes, I am addicted to running)  I kind of gauge injuries by the amount of time I spend away from running.




Boot from Stress Fractures

After the fractures I tried to be a lot more careful, listen to my body, and make sure I didn't end up in that situation again.  I was pretty successful.  Before and after I had some minor injuries, IT band issues, sprained ankles, shin splits, and other general exhaustion injuries that can be subdued with a few days' rest and KT tape.  I'd take the time off I need, tape if I had to, and be back to running in less than a week.

Now I've got this injury in my Plantar muscles, the same foot where I had the fractures.  I've had physical therapy, I've rested, I've stretched, and I've done exercises to strengthen it.  Other than a Halloween run I've been away from running for 4 weeks.  I have crosstrained (cycling and weight training) to keep my fitness up as much as I can.  Yet, I do not know when I will be able to return to running.  When I do return it may hurt again and I may be out for another 4 weeks trying to let it heal.  I know 4 weeks is not eternity, but it can feel like it when you've missed 24 runs, which means time with my friends, time to think on my own, and time to destress.  This is, so far, the 2nd longest period a injury has sidelined me and it may be worse than that.  I have heard from people that there is a chance that it will never leave me.  Plantars injuries can be chronic, some of my friends struggle with it on every run and never seem to be able to rid themselves of the injury.  I hope I can heal, and that it heals before Thanksgiving, if not I may be limping through my runs for a long time because it will not stop me.  Injuries stink and every time we are injured, we just hope that it won't be the one that stops us from running forever.