Today's rainfall: .08"September rainfall: 12.96"
I spent the weekend lying low with foot pain that Geoff pinpointed as a likely case of plantar fasciitis. Basically, it's excessive wear of the tendon-like tissue that stretches across the bottom of the foot. The common term is "policeman's heel." Between that and my "runner's knee," I'm feeling a bit bogged down with overuse maladies that supposedly have nothing to do with my lifestyle.
I think this effectively ends my hiking season, not that the downward-creeping snowline wasn't already threatening to do so. I keep trying to convince myself that it's just as well. It's time to leave the unhindered days of summer behind; time to return to the bike and the more regimented lifestyle of training I have been known to say I miss. But I believe a larger part of me still clings to the hiker's high - the carefree zeal in which I attacked elevation and hoisted myself to the craggy tundra that seemed worlds apart from my home, mere miles away.
And now it's gone. I'm more than a bit annoyed. I'm hobbling around like Gimpy McStiff at work, yet again; and the frequency of my limping, I'm sure, has my associates questioning my basic competence as a bipedal human. You can call me whiny, I don't care, but I think my body is being wholly uncooperative and unreasonable. When my knee cried overuse and decided to stamp out cycling for a while, I re-evaluated the virtues of cross-training. Now that the foot has nixed the cross-training (because pretty much all weight-bearing activities fire up the pain), I guess it's cycling or nothing again.
It seems we can't win, in this battle everyone shares, when age is our enemy and experience our friend.
9 comments:
Hi Jill, hope you feel better soon. Regards.
Ooooh, owee. 3 words; ice, ice, baby. I worked through PF with lots of ice theropy.
Wow, awesome pics of your 'three mountains'. Good eye candy.
I'm sure you will find a way to carry on! You know there are a lot of us out here who envy your lifestyle, (and your scenery, bikes and tenacity) plantar fasciitis and all!
If the bike is your only option.... I guess thats not so bad?
Plantar Faciticisisiss sucks Jill.
I used to get on and off for years running and hiking.. when I used to run.
If you can swing it I'd suggest you get Orthotics for your shoes. Check you insurance and call around to PT's who might make them. Once I got a pair two years ago I havent even had a hint of a problem since.
Ice is your friend too...
Jill – you ramp up your mileage way too fast. A 10% increase over the prior week is a SAFE and proven method (although a bit tedious)…. The overuse injuries you describe can be avoided by taking it slow. As you get older (and your still a pup) going ballistic with your mileage, be it hiking, skiing, or riding WILL bite you in the (pick your weakest body part) every time.
Sorry to hear you are hurt! I don't know what I would do if I couldn't run/hike. Maybe back to swimming for you?
As someone above said, at least you still have the bike.
Sorry to hear about your latest pain challenge, I had similar earlier this summer. Google plantar fasciitis, there are several remedies and different ones work for different people with the same condition. I have Dr. Scholls inserts designed for heel pain, they add arch support and I wear them all the time, even cycling, and don't have a bit of pain any more. You also should stretch your calves and hamstrings and even the bottoms of your feet, tightness in any of these places can contribute. Rolling a golf or tennis ball under your foot may help. Ice might help. A lot of cycling can cause this even if you don't hike much. The good news is that the condition is not permanent and with care can be beaten.
Once again, I really love you pics!
Yikes, I have that, too. Gary and Eric are on the money. Get good shoes and orthopedic inserts - the ones that are custom-made are the best. Start slow and build up to wearing them all the time, even around the house, and do stretching exercises for your feet. You'll beat it.
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