I’ve hurt myself… again. I know, total fail, right? I wanted to run another half mary in the spring, so for now, I just wanted to make running 3 times per week feel comfortable. Around 10 miles per week would be perfect.
Everything was going well until I ran 4 miles a couple weeks ago on an all-gravel and somewhat hilly trail. The area between my big toe and ball of foot was hurting, but it wasn’t bad. I ran through it.
My foot felt better on my 3-mile Tuesday run, but on Wednesday, I couldn’t even walk. I walked 8 minutes on the treadmill (of my attempted 45 minutes), but the pain was too much. I ran Thursday again anyway since it felt better, (another “Doh!”) though I did skip the weekend’s “long” run.
Friday’s Cardio on the Stationary Bike
This week, I had another successful 3 miles Tuesday, but the pain was back again Wednesday. Perhaps I shouldn’t have done that elliptical circuit… Anyway, long story short, I neeeeeeeed to take time off if I’m going to get better. No running. No power walking (for a few days), and no crazy elliptical work either. Just lifting, biking, and pilates.
I think it’s just sesamoiditis (bruising/inflammation of sasamoids), which is explained well in the links below. Basic RICE should fix it (rest, ice, compression, elevation.)
- Cool Running “Foot Pain”
- Livestrong, “Causes of Pain in The Big Toe & Ball of the Foot”
- Colorado Foot Institute, “Sesamoiditis”
So what else am I doing instead of running? Drowning my sorrows in beer n’ pizza, of course. I know – emotional eating isn’t the answer, but man did it taste goooooood!
Now I think I better clean up the diet for a while. And by “for a while,” I mean until Thanksgiving. (Priorities.)