Sheer Stupidity and Injury

I’m down for the count this week, sidelined by pesky pain simmering along the plantar fascia of my left foot. It’s quite annoying, to say the least, but with running comes the prospect of injury. Honestly, it was only a matter of time before I was snared by an overuse injury. All in all, I’m lucky I ran this long with only brief aches and soreness. This pain is slightly different, each throb a constant reminder from my body to rest.  

So how did I get here? 

Sheer stupidity.  

Over the last four months, I ramped up my monthly mileage with no intentional plan, much to my detriment. I simply felt like running, dammit-to-hell if my body wasn’t conditioned for the distances. From April to June, I averaged around 38 miles per month. Something shifted in July. I can’t recall exactly what shifted, but those mileage numbers jumped drastically (for me). The 42 miles in June morphed into 112 miles in July and then 136 miles in both August and September. Looking back on it, this wasn’t a smart move. 

I tend to throw myself into my interests. My mind (when it’s not scattered) can be one-track. When I find a new hobby, I can become obsessive. Generally, I consider this to be a positive, but sometimes enthusiasm can bite one in the ass. Last weekend, it bit my ass and my left foot. 

While I was out for a mid-morning run by the American River, a sharp pain suddenly stabbed my left foot. The pain materialized about a mile into my run and didn’t abate. I ran-hobbled for about another mile before slowing to a stop. Defeated, I dipped my feet in the cold American River for about 15 minutes before limping back to my car, which was parked at Sutter’s Landing. 

Since Saturday, the pain has lingered in my left foot. Though it no longer screams with every step and I’m no longer limping, I sense that I’m not yet ready to hit the trails. Exploratory spurts of jogging have confirmed this. So for now, I rest, substituting my desire to run with bouldering sessions at Pipeworks and cycling. If anything, this forced break from running has emphasized the importance of cross-training.  

If you haven’t guessed by now, allow me to be explicit: I’m terrible at being still. Even before I started running, I was a flurry of activity, not of the body but of the mind. Anxiety and I are old friends. Add in a dash of stupidity and you’ve got a recipe for disaster. 

If I want longevity in running, I need to be more measured and intentional in my approach. I need to listen to my body, add recovery activities (like stretching and massaging my tight calves) to my daily routine and take the odd off day…or a few. It’s all a learning experience and I have a lot to learn. 

Thankfully, I’ve received my running fix via reading. This past week, I finished reading Jason Koop and Jim Rutberg’s “Training Essentials for Ultrarunning,” an excellent, textbook-like tome that’s chock-full of recommendations and insights for ultrarunning. It includes a great guide to a handful of North American ultras, which I plan on utilizing in the future. 

I’m currently working my way through Jay Dicharry’s “Anatomy for Runners.” Thus far, it’s an informative and breezy read that does a great job of translating complex topics like anatomy and biomechanics into plain speak for the layperson. Dicharry is also quite funny, which is a huge plus and keeps the reader engaged. I’m hoping I’ll walk away from this book with new practices that’ll optimize my running and help prevent injury. 

But all the reading in the world will do me no good if I don’t put my learnings into practice. We’ll see how I make do. 

Happy running!