Time until marathon starts: 77 days, 15 hours, 18 minutes, 31 sec
Weeks since last long run: 2
Number of x-rays on foot: 3
LINCOLN PARK ( 26 July, 2008 ) – This morning, I got to sleep in and not for a reason I’m too happy about. I’m on the disabled list because I sprained my foot… bad.
It all started last Saturday. Sandy and I had spent the rainy early-afternoon out in Oakbrook at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. When we got back to the city, I decided to take a pair of shoes in to my local shoe repair shop. Somewhat ironically, en route, I stepped off a crosswalk funny, my flip flop slid, and excruciating pain followed. We have a problem.
I dropped my shoes off and limped back home. The remainder of last weekend was spent with my foot propped up on my coffee table with an ice bag (frozen peas) on my foot. After limping around all day Sunday and a series of x-rays on Monday, it was confirmed that it’s just a sprain. I brought 1993 back this week at work, sporting sneakers with dress attire (I couldn’t get my Ace-bandaged foot inside my usual Ferragamo loafers that I wear to work.)
Onward and upward
The doctor said I can start running again after a week, or when my foot feels better. Unfortunately, one week later my foot still hurts a lot and I have a giant bruise. Also unfortunate, I’m now multiple weeks behind on my long runs. Need to figure out how I’m going to make that up.
This has all of the makings for a triumphant overcoming of a challenge. In the meantime, here are some things I’ve learned from this experience:
- GQ was right: leave the flip flops at the beach or the locker room. I have two pair that are headed to the gym shoe recycling bin at Niketown.
- The acronym RICE – rest, ice, compress, elevate
- An $0.89 bag of frozen peas makes a better ice pack than the $12 ones at CVS.
- People notice when you mix business attire and white sneakers… more than I ever thought.
- Even though I came close, after 28 years of existence I still have never broken a bone.
Good times (not really).
