Stress Fracture(s)

Running 100 miles is wild. Running at all is kind of crazy if you think about it. It has been quoted at 10x the amount of force per step when landing occurs whist running versus walking. 10x the amount! Multiply that by 100 miles and it is a wonder our legs don’t simply disintegrate.

Since running Western States, running has not come easily. I rested for a few weeks and started running again only to head to Alaska, do a mountain race and come home in pain again. It took three doctors appointments, one x-ray and an MRI to find the stress fracture in my calcaneous. At least I don’t feel like a wimp anymore. At least I have a plan forward.

I wonder when it happened. Was it on the descent down Alyeska Mountain? Was it the next day on my long run with Adrian? Sometime later that week? Earlier? It’s hard to tell what aches are worth paying attention to and what aren’t. I don’t run to punish my body, I enjoy the discomfort that is brings sometimes. I didn’t feel like I was doing too much, but apparently my body felt differently.

In addition to the undiagnosed stress fracture, I’ve had some other things that have just tuckered me out. I was fortunate to travel to France to be a part of UTMB with my team from On. That week was incredible and though I was not a part of the running physically, I got in tons of biking and still felt like a part of the festivities. Upon my arrival in France I had no intention to do the race either that weekend or in the future. However, seeing it and the beautiful mountains, if On brings me again next year and I am healthy I would have a hard time saying no to running a shorter race. Even MCC, the 40k option sounds really fun!

In France I met with the product team to do some development and provide feedback on what pieces of gear and shoes could be improved or what I would like to wear next season. I am SUPER JAZZED for the CloudGo to get to my doorstep. I am also really happy to have my size correct this go around. It wasn’t anyone’s fault except my own…and running 100 miles. I went up a half size and discovered I prefer men’s sizing for my feet. I’m happy to have figured it out. Now when the shoes come and my heel is healthy I will be good to go.

It is still crazy to me that I have had all these opportunities this year. I know many people travel and it’s not a big deal, but I grew up not doing it. We weren’t that well off and my dad owns a farm. That means you can’t really leave home for long. I do not disparage my parents for anything, it just makes these trips I can take now even more special. I feel very present and in the moment when I am having these adventures and try to do and see as much as I can. In regard to France, I feel lucky that I wasn’t running there because I spent so much energy just doing the things in the village and spending time with my team. We spent a lot of time talking and hanging out, watching the races that I maybe got 5 hours of sleep each night. Considering I usually get 9, I woke up the day before I left the country pretty sick. My teammate Kirra had come down with something the day before and I got it. Then when I went to take my loaner bike back to the shop I crashed it and fractured my shoulder. Needless to say when I got home I was just a ball of yuck. I spent that week recovering and didn’t even think about running or my painful foot. By the time I got my wits about me and started to think about training again, I was set up for doctors appointments both for my shoulder and then my foot. An MRI was able to diagnose the fracture but by that point it didn’t hurt anymore.

The past two days I’ve been able to do some walk/jogging. That seriously means I walk for 1 minute, then jog for one minute, and repeat that for 30-40 minutes. It’s not glamorous but I actually kind of enjoy getting out after work to be in the sunshine. I like doing it later in the day because if my foot isn’t feeling great during the day, I know better to avoid doing that activity and bike instead. It also allows me to get the bulk of my training on the elliptical or bike done early in the day as my first workout. The jogging is just gravy.

My plan is to let pain by my guide, let it heal and get fit cross-training. The bike and elliptical have served me well before so I’ll use that to my advantage. Hopefully I’ll be able to put something together by later fall. You never know what can happen right? As my friend Marianne says, it’s important not to lose hope and still enjoy the journey. The body will heal if you let it.