Okay. Remember how I said that I had been trying to run since I was 18. Well, the cycle is something like: don’t run for a long time, run, inflame a tendon (patellular tendonitis, IT band-itis, etc.), quit running to let it heal, and don’t run for a long time….. I am continuing the cycle.

On Thursday, I was on the fence for running, but I ultimately said to myself, “Self, let’s try to establish this routine and go run.” So, that’s what I did. I met my friend, and we did a different location run/walk for about 3.5 miles. I wore my super stiff running shoes with orthotics. When we finished, the run proved to be another posterior tibial inflamer! WAHHHH!!!!

I am not going to lie. At this point I was incredibly disappointed. I went home Thursday night and did the ice, heat, ice cycle twice. It felt better by the time I went to bed. However, Friday morning was another story. The left foot really did not like it when I walked on it. I even broke down and took ibuprofen when I got to work. I was at wits end.

How can I prove to the world that I can run in barefeet with my flat feet  if this stupid tendon won’t stop hurting?! Doesn’t it understand that this is really important? GGGAAAAHHHH!

Then, I realized this is part of the process. The process of getting my feet acclimated. So, hang on tight, folks, as I take you through some additional steps for getting over the beginning bump of working out with flat feet.

First, I enlisted the help of the physical therapist I had been to in October when I was going to start training for a half-marathon (no specific half, just any half-marathon at this point). However, once I quit going to him, I pretty much just stopped running and working out period. Man do I need to have some stick-to-it-tiveness in my life.

Anyway, I emailed him about the inflammation with two quesitons: 1. How long does it take inflammation to clear up. 2. Should I stop weight-bearing exercise while letting the inflammation heal?

His answers: 1. 2-3 weeks depending on the inflammation, etc. 2. YES! Stop the weight-bearing exercise immediately.

He also said that ice is the only thing that I needed to do (no ice, heat, ice), and that I should do 15min 3x’s MAX ice per day. He also recommended that I come in for an appointment so he can see my foot and give me some pointers on training in barefeet (his company had recently done a mini-seminar on barefoot running – what timing!).

My response since then, I iced for 15min on Friday night. I am planning to call on Monday to make an appointment, and hopefully I’ll see him next week to get new stuff going.

Second, I had an appointment with my chiropractor (I see my chiropractor at least once per month, and I highly recommend this action for everyone – more on that later), and at the end of these appointments, I also have a massage to help the body’s muscles realign with the adjustment or something.

During this particular appointment, I was worried because I was getting a new massage therapist. It turned out that I had absolutely nothing to worry about. She was fantastic and very in tune with the body. It was interesting because they keep a file on me, and she knew about my history with TMJ even though I didn’t mention it. I always get a little freaked out when the massage therapist goes, we’ll need time to massage your jaw for your TMJ, when I have only mentioned that my left posterior tendon is killing me. My massage therapist is AWESOME!

Ok, back to the massage, when she got down to my legs, it was the usual OMG pain in the quadriceps from all the new work they’ve been doing (expected), but there was this excruciating pain across the top of my ankle. She said that this is a band of muscles that the wrist and ankle have because they are the “weak link” in the body. Well, let me tell you, my band of muscles were super tight! She worked on the left foot first, and then the right foot. Her observation was that the “right foot is a lot less gristly than the left foot.” And boy was she correct!

Overall, I felt so much better with my chiropractic adjustment and massage, that I am going to increase the frequency during my early stages of training. I will start with once every two weeks and see if that is enough. I am also going to enlist the help of my physical therapist. Let me tell you, folks, it really does take a village!

This is not the end! It is merely an obstacle on the way to success!