Monday, November 7, 2016

Right Now Gratitude - day 5

2016 has been a strange year for running. I had ankle pain that started in late April and never really went away. It was an annoyance, but about a month ago my ankle started hurting all the time, and just walking around doing my normal activities was hard. Despite this, I did a few more dumb things in October - ran up a hill long zigzagging instead of just running straight - the same act that gave me plantar fasciitis about 10 years ago. Another day, I did a cardio sandwich at the gym on my already tender ankle. Finally, I did a long downhill run from my house to the high school one day after work. No bueno, not a happy ankle.

So I stopped running for two weeks and fretted about what to do about it. After the two weeks when it wasn't any better or worse than before, I decided to go to the doctor. Once I decided to go to the doctor, I knew I could start running again, which shouldn't make any sense, but it does. So last Monday I saw a podiatrist. He was really nice, and even kept trying to help me after I told him I might kick him in the face if he pinched my achilles one more time (I have achilles issues.) After an xray, he offered me a cortisone shot in my ankle to combat what he thinks may be arthritis. I really wanted to get the hell out of his office as soon as he mentioned the shot, but he was very persuasive and I relented. I was super proud of myself that I didn't hyperventilate during said shot. Go me.

So now I'm 8 days post-shot. My ankle feels so much better! The feeling that my foot might break off each time I walk down stairs has dissipated, happily. It still hurts a little bit in places, but mostly it just feels and looks like my foot again, which is a relief. I didn't realize how swollen it had been until a few days ago when I realized my socks suddenly felt roomy. I've been running a few times since, and I just love being back to it.

Fall is my favorite time of year to run. I admit that I slog through the summer, watching my running splits get slower and slower as it gets hot. It's always a relief to get to that magical morning that will come around every September when the air is crisp and I can run fast again. And even though I always know there will be a few more warm runs, I know they are numbered.

Tonight was a perfect autumn run. I left just as the sun set behind my mountains. I watched the shadows grow across the valley. The wind was there, just as it always is when you live on the west side, but it was manageable. I needed long sleeves and an ear warmer (sadly, there weren't thumb holes, which are the best invention ever - Amy and I were texting about earlier!) I ran a route that was part happenstance, part determination to encounter as many paths covered in leaves as possible. I felt like I could run forever. It was gorgeous and perfect and I was just so grateful to be running, to be feeling like myself, to be crunching leaves under my feet.



What are you grateful for today?

1 comment:

Feisty Harriet said...

a) I'm so glad your feet/ankle are feeling better, I really hope the shot is a longish term solution!

b) Today I'm grateful for hot showers and leftover Halloween candy. (Yes, it HAS been a rough day!)

xox