Say Hello to The Boot!

Hopefully "The Boot" will only be around a couple of weeks and it will get me over the hump so I can finally return to running. Back in February I tore my plantar fascia and after taking it easy a few months, then PT for a couple of months, and unsuccessfully trying to start running again a few times along the way, I am now limiting all weight bearing activities... walking included. Anyway, "The Boot" even made David Quick's photo essay of the final race of the Charleston Triathlon Sprint Series. Thanks DQ. :)

Despite "The Boot", I had a great time watching so many friends race. Sometimes this sport can burn you out a bit but right now I truly miss it. Congratulations to everyone that competed on Sunday!! I hope to be back out there with y'all next season!

Greenway flop!

It's now been about 16 weeks since the treadmill incident and even though this nasty case of plantar faciitis is lingering I am trying to do just a little bit of running - although not so gracefully.

Yesterday morning I was doing my big 1.75 mile run on the greenway. As my left foot was moving forward, it caught the shoelace of my right shoe and I went down hard like a big sack of potatoes! I laughed then pulled myself off the ground, brushed off some of the dirt and kept running. A girl running towards me asked if I was ok - I think she was trying very hard not to laugh and I don't blame her! So covered in dirt, abrasions on my arm, thigh and hand and blood pouring down my shin from my knee - why wouldn't I be ok?

So now I'm off to purchase some speed laces! I'm sure that won't be the last time I take a spill but hopefully I'm done tripping over shoelaces (wishful thinking)!!

Will there be races?

That's the question rolling through my mind these days. I was focused and busy getting prepared for St Anthony's and things were going reasonably well until one day on the treadmill a few weeks ago. I had to cut my workout short due to pain in my foot and I'm still not able to run. Amazingly, I don't find myself all that disappointed. Actually, I have removed the pressure to race well monkey off my back and decided that this year is going to be focused on getting strong and healthy and having a really good time doing it. If I find my competitive spirit again and end up doing some racing, fine. If not, then I am ok with that too. So while my foot heals I will continue to swim and bike but I am also going to focus on consistent strength training and yoga classes.

Another piece of my strong and healthy quest is going to be focused on identifying the source of recent asthma attacks. During the winter months I started having to use my inhaler almost daily. In January I spent three weeks on an elimination diet and slowly began to reintroduce certain foods. The results indicate I may likely have a wheat allergy. I am already almost vegan and try to limit my intake of soy so add an allergy to wheat on top of that and meals can be fairly challenging! I can no longer eat some of my favorite veggie burgers and a lot of the ones that are wheat free contain eggs and/or soy. Anyway, I am a bit suspicious that intake of wheat along with red wine (which contains histamine) is a combination that puts me over the edge for an asthma attack. So while avoiding wheat is a challenge, I choose wine over wheat any day! :)