Ankle trouble
Or is it my calf? Or both? This vaguely located pain at the bottom of my left leg has been bothering me since my 16 miles last Friday, though Sunday is when it became especially bad. Maybe it was my stupid high-heel shoe choice Saturday night that aggravated it. But I sat out a Monday run to give it a rest.
Tuesday, I ran 3 miles on the treadmill, then switched to cross-training on the elliptical for my last 2 miles. I felt like a responsible runner with this decision, instead of the disappointment I would expect for cutting a run short for the first time since this training began.
But yesterday I went outside and ran my allotted 8 miles. My speed wasn’t always good, and the run definitely did not flow, as I was compensating for my left side throughout. So much, that I could feel it in my lower back. I was also very aware of the pain in the bottom of my feet. But I finished out the 8, rewarding myself on the last half mile with two laps around the track, the cushion of which felt great on my whole body. If only I could stand the endless loops of it enough to stage my whole run there.
And that brings me to today. I was wary, making that first step out of my bed, hoping the base of my left leg would be stronger, stable, improved. But it’s more of the same, and I continue to hobble and grasp banisters as I slowly lift myself up and down stairs. I am meant to do 5 miles today, take tomorrow off and then run 16 on Saturday. Now I think skipping today might be my best bet for repeating that long run number this weekend. But I hate to do it. I hate being patient.
It would be easy to go to the gym and run out my 5 miles, but it could also make the rest of my training a lot harder, or end it altogether.
I shall have to be good and do the right thing. Arghhhh.
