Long walk back

  Different pair of orthotics and arch-support tape: two things that renewed my hope for the marathon -- if only for a brief moment

In a last ditch effort to get myself back on the road, I went to see a physical therapist this week to with the intention of discussing cortisone injection.  I've always been hesitant about a use of powerful pain-killer, but with everything I've put myself through for the past 4 months I wasn't about to give up without weighing all of my options.

Well not surprisingly, the PT told me he would rather not give me cortisone unless absolutely necessary...and instead focused his attention on my biomechanic which he felt was off despite my custom-made orthotics.  Looking at my left foot, he noticed that my current orthotics didn't have enough arch support.  So he taped up the arch, gave me a pair of disposable orthotics to try, then had me run on a treadmill...and what do you know, there was absolutely no pain in my left glute or IT band!  The test run lasted only 5 minute, but I was feeling optimistic...maybe I can run in New York after all. 

Of course, the real test would have to come on asphalt....so yesterday I visited my PT again to get a fresh tape on my arch, then went out for the usual 5-mile run along Los Gatos Creek Trail.  For the first mile everything felt great -- I didn't feel any discomfort whatsoever, and I was just full of energy from my forced time-off.  But soon after things just began to crumble.  First I began to develop a pain in my left arch...and it became so unbearable that I had to stop.  As it turned out, the arch-support tape had peeled off half way and was causing painful blister. 

For a brief moment I thought about just stopping my run and walking back to avoid potentially aggravating my glute injury.  But seeing how I was feeling no pain, I decided to just completely peel off the tape and  keep on running...and then it happened.  I felt a sharp pain in the lateral and backside of my left knee -- the exact pain I experienced 10 years ago that prevented me from completing a marathon I was training for.  The moment I felt that pain, I knew my hope of running this year's New York Marathon has all but vanished.

Unable to run another step, I spent the next 40 minutes walking back to my car...which felt like an eternity.  With the daylight saving time closing to an end, the sky quickly fell into darkness...and the temperature rapidly began to fall.  Needless to say I was completely demoralized -- and I hope I'll never have to experience such miserable walk again.

Comments

[Jonny K.]

=( that sux