As you all know I have a love/hate relationship with running. I love the way it feels, especially after I get through the first mile. I love the way it makes me look, more lean less cheese. I love the comradre with friends that has come out of hours spent running and chatting. I like how it feels to know that I can run 10 miles and live.
I hate putting my shoes on and walking out the door. I also hate being injured – which I currently am. Last month after an 8-miler I injured my right achilles. It hurt a lot. I could hardly walk on it. I took some time off and did stretches. I even bought this handy contraption to wear to bed. Of course, I waited until after Dallas left from R & R to try it out – he probably couldn’t handle how sexy it made me look.
Hot, I know. But it worked. My right achilles is totally fine. However, my left ankle has some issues. It hurts all the time. Walking, running, going up and down stairs, constantly. Except when my left shin or left knee hurts instead. It sucks. I can barely walk without wincing. I’m still running, but I have to get up extra early so I can load up on ibuprofen beforehand. It’s not bad to take four or five of those at a time is it?
I’ve also invested in several contraptions to help heal my ankle/shin/knee issue.
The first was this brace, it doesn’t help at all but at least it was cheap.
Next I tried this air cast, borrowed from Sara. It helped a little, as long as I didn’t have to walk much.
I went to the Doctor who suggested this lace-up ankle brace. He also suggested I stop running for a while. (That’s not an option. Duh.) This worked on my ankle, but I couldn’t wear it in a shoe. I also couldn’t run in it. Not that I’m running, Doctor.
I also bought this brace. I thought it was going to be awesome. And it is, for walking. But when I run it feels like someone is driving rusty nails into my ankle. Which is slightly worse than how they feel normally.
In the midst of all this, my shins started bothering me so I bought compression socks. Three different pair. Only the expensive, full sock type works. I wear them before and after a long run. They make a huge difference, sadly I can only find one of them. I think the big kids hid them so they wouldn’t have to babysit while I run. They’re passive aggressive like that.
My knee hurts too, so I bought this knee brace. It helps a lot, but I could never wear it running. It gives me muffin top on my legs. Gross.
I even purchased this thing, which makes me feel super old. It also helps me remember to take vitamins, which may or may not have caused/helped with my injury.
Most recently I bought new shoes. (Perhaps my shoes are causing the problem and not my birth date?) I was happy to do it. The last time I bought shoes the salesman suggested Saucony’s made for flat-footed losers like me. They look like pink orthopedic shoes. I hate them. My new shoes are fabulous. They look like blue orthopedic shoes.
I don’t want to think about how much I’ve spent. (It’s only money, Dallas’ll make more!) But guess what? My ankle still hurts. Every single step. It sucks. But I’m still running. Slower than I would like to be and not nearly as much, but I’m still running. I have a race this weekend and a half-marathon at the end of the month. Even if I have to limp across the finish line – I’m doing it.
I’m also linking up with my friend Jamie for a project called Run.Blog.Give. We are forming a virtual team to run 2,429 miles. It’s the distance between BlogHer ’11 in San Diego and BlogHer ’12 in NYC. But running is not enough, we want to give something back too. I plan to donate $1 for every mile I run to The American Widow Project. If you are a blogger you can link up too. You don’t have to donate to the American Widow Project, but I’d give you a giant virtual kiss if you did. If you don’t want to link up or aren’t a blogger and would like to donate your miles to Team Twinisms, note it in the comments. I’ll email you each week to collect your miles and log them in. If we log the most miles Jamie will make a donation to my charity, The American Widow Project.
If me and my crappy old ankle can do it, so can you.
Wow…good for you!!! I’m so impressed with your perseverance and determination to keep running. The only place I run is to the liquor store and that’s in the car.
Good Luck!
Wow! Go, you!!! You are so hard core, I love it xxx
I run 4 miles a day, 6 days a week. I’d like to donate my miles to your blog.
orthotics !!!! / if only you would have used then when we paied for them you may not have had to spend your money now !!! / how ever that is just my thought / along with the fact you are getting older / i found out how old i was when i tried to run with you up in BF&E ( the frozen north , Alaska )while on vacation / now day i just walk a few miles a day and fined it works better ! /
Can’t tell you how much I love that your dad is calling you out on here:) You go, girl! But maybe (little, tiny maybe) you should at least consider listening to your doc and taking a break before you have to become the bionic woman.
Bridget, I will pledge my 3.1 miles 5 days a week. I had to cut back because of knee and ankle problems too (maybe it is hereditary…is it your right knee and ankle?). You go girl!!
Bridget you’re awesome! I will have to check out the widow foundation because my best friend became a widow at the age 0f 26 w 4 kids almost 3 years ago now. Hey maybe you have an extra bone in your foot(like my kenna) that’s causing the extra pain?:) I hear it also causes extreme cases of smart aleckness…yes it’s a word.
You’ve almost convinced me to start running, almost… but I’d follow this up with another post about how awesome it makes you feel because I pretty much stopped dancing cause I was sick and tired of something always hurting and I was 26… taking up running at 36 seems suicidal. But I’m thinking about it, have been thinking about it since march in fact. I just need to find a way to get my rear off the couch!
BROOKS! Best. Shoes. Ever. Even when you only actually run like 1.5 miles and walk fast the rest.
Show off.
You can so totally have my miles!!! Between Heather and you, I got inspired, and took up running after being out of commission for almost 3 yrs. I had a frozen shoulder, which at its worst point, prevented me from being able to take my own shirt off!! Had to have my husband or one of my girls help me. Worst pain EVER! Any jarring physical activity was out. SOOO, I started slowly and I’m up to 2.5 to 3 miles every other day. I can’t do every day because I DO have arthritis in both knees and I AM old!! LOL!! 48 is no spring chicken to take up running. Hahaha. But here I am. Take it easy on your ankle and good luck on your races!! You rock!!
Reading your Dad’s comments is HALF the fun of reading your bolg!
p.s. You went to Skinny Raven right?
Go team!!! Looks like you’re going to have some good company on our team too!
I really dislike injury. You are one tough cookie!
HOLY CRAP!!! I completely admire your determination through all the pain! Me? I would be running to the wine cellar and parking my tushie right there until I healed!
What a great cause and a great group of women!
I walk/jog 4 miles 3 or 4 days a week, my miles are all yours! Good Luck!
What a great idea! Unfortunately I kind of hate running. Would running on a treadmill count for miles?
See, now I hate everything you love about running, and I love everything you hate. Running 1 block, let alone 1 mile? No, thanks. Sitting on the couch contemplating it? I can do that. P.S. That lace up brace is the sexiest.
Maybe it’s a joint thing (your ankle is a joint, right?) My knees were hurting when I was running because the cartilage in my joints was thinning or something like that. I started taking glucosamine and it helped pretty quickly (like a few weeks)… just a suggestion
Virtually wincing, Grace is right, you are so hard core! I can’t help but worry about you. Take care B!
I ache after reading this…
You Rockkkkkk. Xx
The next time your kids hide your compression socks, tell them to give you a foot massage. Bet that sucker will turn right up!
[...] too low-lying uterus, out flew my dream of becoming a hardcore runner like my bloggy friends Bridget and Kim or the girl from down under Grace who runs in the annual City2Surf, Sydney’s favourite [...]