Good morning friends!!
Happy Tuesday!! Personally, I'm glad that Monday is over!! I'm usually very busy at work playing catch up from the weekend and yesterday was no exception! I left early to go to my doctor's appointment.
My chiropractor treats many runners and is very familiar with running injuries. I really like him because he doesn't just treat the symptoms, he wants to correct whatever caused the symptoms in the first place. Being a nurse, I already knew my issue was my Achilles. He did a thorough assessment and feels that it is the result of muscle imbalances. He did a laser treatment on the heel and recommended that I come back 3 more times. Friday when I go in, he will do dry needling and then tape my heel to get me through my run this weekend. He will also give me "home work" or exercises to help strengthen the weak muscles. I'm hoping for the best here!!
After I left his office, I went to Fleet Feet Sports Tulsa for the kickoff of the spring session of Pathways. I had left my running shoes at home yesterday morning, but happened to have the new pair of Asics GT-2000 in my car. I was talking with one of the staff members about the Achilles pain I'm having and he started asking me about the shoes I was wearing, where did I get them, how I came to choose that pair of shoes, etc. He felt like it wasn't really a good fit for me and managed to finagle a trade for a new pair of Asics Cummulus.
The Cummulus is a neutral shoe and because I tend to pronate and for arch support, he recommended that I wear a Superfeet insole. This combination felt very good when I put it on. I decided to go for a little test run. I wasn't very far from the store when I knew that this wasn't going to work. I managed to get 1 mile before I had to stop and walk. I was devastated and frustrated. I had to do the time trial with the Pathwayers then we were going to run 1.5 miles and I wasn't going to be able to do it. I took the Superfeet insoles out and put the original sock liner back in. We had our Pathways meeting then did the time trial. I ran about 0.5 miles back to the store with the group and realized that my heel wasn't hurting as bad without the Superfeet. I decided to try to run with my group. We did 1 mile in 11.20 and my heel actually felt pretty good. I went back into the store to tell Seth what had happened. He recommended that I purchase a CEP Compression Achilles brace, so I did. I tried it on when I got home and I think this along with the new shoes and the chiropractor will help me overcome the Achilles problem and keep me running!! I'm super excited!!
I've scheduled a sports massage tonight after work. I'm really looking forward to that!! I need someone to work out some soreness, tightness and kinks that I just can't get to with a foam roller.
Last week, I had a chance to speak to my local, hometown YMCA running group about my story. When they first asked me to do it, I said yes but hoped that they would forget. I don't really consider myself an inspiration. But, recently when my children were here visiting, I had a little eye opener. My grand daughter, who is 7, looked at all my medals and asked "Grandma, did you get all those medals from winning marathons?" Without even thinking about it, I said "yes" The way I see it, is we're all winners for getting out there in the first place and I really didn't want to explain the concept of a finisher's medal to a 7 y/o, who wasn't going to understand in the first place. Her response to my reply was a wide eyed "WOW" I could hear the awe in her voice and it made me realize that she thinks her grandma is a winner. GREAT! Let her!! And in that moment, I realized that we never know who is watching and who we might be inspiring!!
Be an inspiration today!!!
One of my problems with running is shoes ... I dislike wearing shoes SO much. On my elliptical or bike, I wear slippers. Around the house, I don't wear anything. Out and about I'll have boots in the winter, sandals in the summer. I never wear "sneaker" type shoes unless I'm working out and I take them off the first moment I can. I can't stand the feel on my feet. I've tried several, although I admit I haven't been to a specialty store or paid a lot. I hate the thought of paying a lot and then having them still not work. Did the store take them back after you'd run outside in them?
ReplyDeleteMy hubby has had Achilles problems. Starting when he was very young (had to have surgery to have the tendon lengthened) and then it ruptured a few years back (surgery again for that). Achilles issues, or any injury is no fun!
When I was a fairly new nurse, I got a very bad case of plantar fasciitis which I attributed to athletic shoes so I quit wearing them. I sure hope I find the right one, I'm tired of being injured.
DeleteI love my Asics
ReplyDeleteI'm really excited to give these a try :-)
DeleteI wore the cumulus in 2012 and loved them. I switched to brooks pure flow 2's in 2013 and I will never go back. I also used to suffer from achilles problems, I had a major case of achilles tendinitis that was persistant for over a year. I got a prp injection infused with anti-inflammatory cytokines and switched shoes and no more issues, 1 year pain free in january 2014! Good luck and I hope yours gets better soon, ahcilles issues are the worst!
ReplyDeleteI hope the chiropractor and these new shoes get me running without pain again soon. I'm frustrated with being injured!
DeleteI'm so glad it looks like you found a better shoe, along with the CEP's to help ease your pain. Good luck!!
ReplyDeleteI'm wearing the compression brace with my work shoes today and the pain seems to be a little bit better. Maybe this will be sorry lived :-)
DeleteI suffer from tight Achilles, which means I have to stretch to keep them limber. Stretching, massage, rotating shoes, rest days are all important parts of maintenance. I've been more conscious of this since running most of the 2011 season with Plantar Fasciitis. Spending a little time on yourself pays dividends.
ReplyDeleteI roll and stretch often to help prevent issues. I blame these issues on the shoes/insoles but I'm sure it has more to do with my gait than anything else
DeleteI was wearing Asics GT 2000's and then started feeling serious pain in my arches :(. I'm still trying to figure out whether I need insoles or what type of shoe is best for me! Hope your new pair works out!
ReplyDeleteI need something with more arch support, I just don't know what. I've asked multiple times at my running store but haven't gotten a consistent answer. A fellow runner told me that she uses a Prostep insole so might check that out
DeleteI'm glad that you may have found a solution to your achilles pain. I know it can be real frustrating dealing with an injury. I agree that everyone who finishes is a winner. It takes a lot of training, time, and effort to prepare for a race.
ReplyDeleteI'm cautiously optimistic about what I'm doing for the Achilles problem. I don't want to get my hopes up.....yet!
DeleteThere is nothing better than a good massage to help work out the kinks. I have terrible hip flexors from sitting all day and I can tell you that it will make your running so much better! I, too, have the cumulus and I LOVE them! Enjoy and happy running!
ReplyDeleteI sit all day too and I thought that I was stretching/rolling enough but it was abundantly clear that I don't do a good enough job. The massage was AMAZING but she said, "there's no way I'm going to finish you in 1 hour"
DeleteI love that little story about your granddaughter! Yes, if we cross the finish line than we are winners! I'm interested in learning more about the Asics. I think this might be a shoe I would want next time I need a new pair!
ReplyDeleteI think that I've now worn just about every brand that is available now, except for Adidas! I just wish I could find the "right" one.
Deletemy biggest problem is not my shoe but the lack of strength and muscles to achieve my goals. this whole winter I am dedicated to my gym, with lots of squats and body building
ReplyDeleteMy issues probably have more to do with my gait than my shoes, but I am of a prima dona when it comes to my shoes
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