Back to Training

While recovering and now as I prepare to get back to training, I have been listening to a several interesting fitness podcasts.  The Natural Running Network podcast by Richard Diaz, the Ben Greenfield Fitness podcast and the Obstacle Order podcast. I am reading Ben’s Beyond Training book as well. What I have been trying to figure out is how to get back to training and how to train smartly so I don’t hurt myself, yet again. I really think staying healthy is a worthy goal.

A couple of days ago, I got a notification letting me know a new article was published on one of my favorite running blogs Relentless Forward Commotion. The post was about the value of heart rate zone training. As I read the post, I kept saying a few of things to myself:

• I know that;
• That makes sense;
• Why can’t I do what is best for me?
• Should I try to change my way of training?

The End of an Era

Last night was the end of an era. (I hope). That is my boot and I think it is apparent that my foot is not in it.

At the end of the day, I removed the boot and put it into the closet. If all goes well, it will never again see the light of day.

I wish I could say that I ‘m not apprehensive about what it is going to happen now that I have removed the boot and can walk normally for the first time in five weeks. But, it is my nature is to be concerned.

Reflection on an injury

As I sit and wait (literally and figuratively) for my foot to heal, the free time has given me the ability to look at my situation and spend some time in what I hope to be positive reflection.

The first thing that I need to admit to myself, is that I am enjoying the down time. Yes, as weird as this may sound, I am liking the time away from working out. After several years of training and competing the break is relaxing, both mentally and physically.

Boot life – Part II

So far living with the boot hasn’t been as annoying and limiting as I would have expected. In most ways, it doesn’t even get in the way of my day-to-day activities. The real limiter isn’t the boot, but the injured foot that is cradled inside of the boot. Waiting for the injury to heal is been annoying. It has been almost 2 months to the day since my last run and nearly 4 weeks since my last ride.

The results are in . . .

I just got back from the doctor and the results of my MRI are in.

The good news is that I don’t have a stress fracture. But, I do have stress reactions aka “Chronic Repetitive Stress Injury of the Bone” (precursors to fractures) in both my 3rd and 4th metatarsals. It is a good thing that I shut my training down when I did or it could have progressed to a full fledged stress fracture.

The bad news is that I have a lot of other things wrong with my foot/ankle that will still require an additional 3 weeks in the boot to heal.