A Passion for Running

Welcome to the home of Mark aka The Running Blogfather – a 40 year-old dad, husband and marathon runner who's beaten injury and is on the comeback trail!

naming your pain…and stupidity

passion for running category: running on Monday, December 5 2005

Well, as hard as it has been to admit, I’m convinced that what I’ve been dealing with is another stress-fracture. I haven’t gotten a firm diagnosis since my doctor is close to retirement and seemingly always on vacation, but Aaron sent me some information that describes what I have pretty well:

Stress fractures in the fifth metatarsal bone (on the outer side of the foot) or in the navicular or talus bones take longer to heal, perhaps as long as six to eight weeks. Your orthopaedist may apply a cast to your foot or recommend that you use crutches until the bone heals. In some cases, you may need surgery so that the orthopaedist can insert a screw in the bone to ensure proper healing

I’ve done some reading on that fifth metatarsal bone thing, and it sounds pretty much spot-on.

I was in denial about it ever since it happened – especially with regard to sharing it with the world. Why? Because, no doubt, the skeptics will say I got this injury because of barefoot running, or because of the Pose Method.

That would not be entirely accurate. What would be accurate would be to say that I got this injury by doing something idiotic while doing those things. And “no” I’m not ready to share the details of that bonehead move. Not yet anyway.

The good news is that it has been about 5 weeks and I think the healing is almost over.

I think I’ll be running in another week or two and this time I’ won’t be making any dumb-ass moves. Maybe I should qualify that: I won’t be making that dumb-ass move again.




8 Comments

7707

Comment by Adeel

Monday December 05, 2005 @

Clearly, you must tell us what you did.

7708

Comment by Mark

Monday December 05, 2005 @

On a day when my mom came to visit, I asked her to videotape me barefoot running. We went out to a nearby sidewalk where I proceeded to, without any kind of warm up, run almost as fast as I could. I did about 6 passes of 100 meters each. It was on about the fourth pass when I noticed something but I kept going. The stupid mistakes were:

1) not warming up at all before running FAST in my bare feet. Stupid because I need a warm up in order to find my form. Because I did not warm up, the fast running involved a lot of pounding – WAY more so than when I usually run barefoot.

2) I kept going after I became hurt for another 2 passes.

3) The next morning, things were bad but I continued to run until things got really bad on my last run with Aaron. I was in complete denial. In fact, I remember at first not even connecting the pain in the morning with the day before.

That was (I think) 4 to 5 weeks ago.

I know. I’m a dolt.

7710

Comment by susie

Monday December 05, 2005 @

Oh man. We all do stupid things Mark. I guess if you do too many, then we have to start yelling or something. But I don’t think you’re there yet:) Hang on. You’ll be up and around soon.

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Comment by Jon in Michigan

Tuesday December 06, 2005 @

I thought you were going to say you went running naked and some old lady stomped on your foot for being a pervert.

Glad it was just you showing off for Mom.

Ofcourse, you shouldn’t go running naked either.

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Comment by Adeel

Tuesday December 06, 2005 @

That’s just odd.

Once I raced a friend barefoot on the soccer field of a shady high school. Actually, I did it about a half dozen times, in the dark. Thankfully I don’t get hurt…or get AIDS.

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Comment by Jesse

Tuesday December 06, 2005 @

Ouch — that’s a lousy and frustrating way to get injured. I did a similar thing a few years back and got a stress fracture playing barefoot soccer — after 8 weeks in a boot, I learned my lesson. 2 months ago I got another stress fracture and this time I went straight to the doctor and it made all the difference.

Good luck healing and getting back on the road!

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Comment by david

Tuesday December 06, 2005 @

I hate it when I do things like that. Not thinking. I am sorry for you and am sure you beat yourself up plenty. Let’s hope and stretch it all away very soon.

7717

Comment by Lara

Tuesday December 06, 2005 @

Just reading the word ‘stress fracture’ sent a chill up my spine! Glad you’re starting to feel healed and better.

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