I’ve been struggling with some severe pain in my left foot, from the ankle to the bridge and as consequence I did my first run in more than a week this evening. Felt relieved that my alignment is somewhat better. I say alignment, as the inflammation in my foot is not the major concern, thats just the symptom, the cause is my body geometry being warped.
I googled what someone mentioned my niggle might be, and I came across a good article on plantar fasciitis describing exactly what I’d been experiencing. I could trace it back to the Totalsports Challenge beach run, which is a 9km slog on sloped sand running barefoot with a very fatigued body. I was conscious of my foot thereafter, but more my left lower back’s tightness.
Francois Retief, my masseuse, treated my back but relief was temporary. I kept tightening up. Text book laziness and neglect really - not doing my bunkies (watch the video clip) till crisis really strikes. Also missed some pilates classes, didnt stretch specifically as I should have either. Worsened a bit after Duel, manageable, but then it really reacted badly to the rugged terrain and steep gradients at Xterra Shongweni.
My mother had the prize advice after her toil with the exact same issue for ages. As a recreational runner, she’s been suffering from the tight lower left back, the strip down the side of her leg, and into the underside tendons of her foot. She’d been recommend a series of stretches that have been effective and spot on for me. And I’ve done a few bunkies…
Most of them feel like a nerve stretch - a horrid, awkward sensation. I’ll have to do a small video clip of demonstration, in-case someone else is caught with the same dilemma. Being able to run freely is not so much a predetermined gift, as it is managing your body through all its season’s.
Hoping I’ll be pain free soon. Will keep you posted.
One Response to "Plantar Fasciitis"
I am trying to heal a case of PF right now and I have noticed some of the same things you have. I read about all the stretches, ice massage, etc and it seems like the more stretching I do the worse it gets. I think I am over doing the treatments. In the last couple of days I have been resting my foot as much as possible, rolling a tennis ball and using moist heat. I really haven’t seen too many places that suggest heat, but it seems to feel better to me than the ice. Anyone else use heat. I am suppose to be running in the Race for the Cure on Oct. 18, but right now I just hope I will be able to walk it. I am a 20 year breast cancer survivor, so it’s really special to me. It’s my first race and before my foot started acting up so much I was able to run a mile, walk a couple of minutes, run 1/2 mile walk a couple minutes, etc. My best time walk/running 3 miles was about 40 minutes. I was going to be very happy with that time since I only started running in June of this year. I want to be able to participate so bad. I have been raising money and talking about it to my friends and family, so I really want to do this.
Sorry I got so long winded, but I really, really love running.