Tweaks (not Tweaking!)

Having gotten back to running on a consistent basis only in the last six weeks, I knew I was pushing it by ramping up the mileage at a relatively rapid pace. While 3 mile runs and a 4 mile weekly "long" run are not long distances by many measurements, getting there from a base of zero miles was sure to make me sore. But I had taken care not to push it too much: I have mostly stuck to running every other day with rest in between; once I got to 3 mile easy runs, I resolved to hang out there for several weeks; same with the long run...a few weeks of 4 milers before going to 4.5, etc; icing my aches afterwards; being better about stretching post-run. All of which seemed to help. Until Tuesday, that is.

Tuesday's run was normal. Nothing extraordinary in the 3 miles that I could tell. But by lunch time on Tuesday, I could feel that I had tweaked something in my right foot. Namely the tendons on the outside of my foot (my best guess). It was a little sore when I walked and most uncomfortable when I walked uphill or downhill. Yesterday morning when I got up, it was pretty stiff and painful, but it loosened up and didn't feel too bad after my walk in to the office. However it was barking by the time I got home from the walk (mostly uphill) from the office back home.

So I was worried that I had really done something to the foot. It was stiff and sore this morning when I woke up for my 3 miler, but loosened up somewhat by the time I was dressed and out the door for the run. I stretched it out best I could and set off at an easy pace. While I could always tell the strain was there, it wasn't acutely painful. Nonetheless, I could feel the strain a few times as I ran down the hills going to the harbor, so I turned at Pratt St and headed back up towards home, cutting 0.25 mile off my distance. By the time I ran uphill and got back home, my foot definitely hurt; I'd say 3 on a scale of 10.

I iced my foot before showering and getting ready for work and, instead of walking, took the bus to work today, which I think was prudent. It feels better now, but we'll see how I feel this evening as to whether I'll be walking home or taking the bus again. Tomorrow is a rest day anyway, so I'll see how I feel by tomorrow night or Saturday morning before running again...I'd rather not have to bag the Sunday run.