For The Love Of Running

There would be no fartlek through the woods. No peaceful run down the mountain, and definitely none of those mind-numbing sprints around the track. In fact, there may be no substantive running at all this year. It’s shocking to the core.

If you’ve ever talked at length to a runner, chances are the discussion evolved into the topic of injuries. There’s not a single memory of an injury from the nearly 20 years of competitive tennis in my earlier years, but I can’t even put a number to all the running injuries.

You’d think it would be discouraging, but it’s not. The goal is to avoid injury, somewhat like the goal is to avoid misjudging your arrival at the airport and never miss a flight. It still happens sometimes.

This latest injury happened within the first two steps of a run when I heard a loud pop. It’s curious that I heard the pop despite music blasting into my ears, which I’ve later realized is because the pop came from inside my body. The peroneal tendon of my right foot had moved out of its groove. If it moved all the way across the ankle bone and snapped back, it‘s called Peroneal Tendon Subluxation. Treatment seems to be the same nonetheless. REST.

One authority on the subject claims this injury is one of the few running injuries that’s not a consequence of overuse. They correctly observe that some athletes experience this ailment even when we’ve followed all the proper training rules. The alternative label appears to be “repetitive use with biomechanical dysfunction” because those of us with high arches that also run excessively are more prone than others to succumb to its ill fate.

Initially it hurt to do everything. The back of my heel was swollen, the tendon was tender to the touch, and would move around slightly. It was during these early weeks that it hurt to walk, run, or even ride my bike. Some weeks I did nothing at all. It was depressing, frustrating, and every other aggravating ‘-ing’ word imaginable.

My husband told me one day that I needed to get out there and do something to exhaustion. We found a new bike route and I went for a long ride. There were the steepest hills I’ve ever climbed, nail-biting descents, and the hairiest of all hair-pin turns. I used every gear in my arsenal that day. It was exhausting.

I’ve learned something. I love running so much.

I love the long runs, and the total exhaustion that comes from a grueling race. I simply adore the daily routine of charging up my watch and following a training plan. I miss all those things that runners learn to endure over years of practice.

The advice I’d want to give to every new runner is to stick with it. It gets better. It doesn’t always hurt. Focus on training your mind, and some day you’ll be pleasantly surprised that you’ve actually enjoyed yourself.

Exactly the conversation I’ve finally had with myself about doing every other exercise besides running.

For more information about a peroneal tendon injury or the dreaded subluxation, click on one of the articles below.

http://www.footeducation.com/page/subluxing-peroneal-tendons

https://www.epainassist.com/sports-injuries/ankle-injuries/peroneal-tendon-subluxation-or-dislocation-causes-symptoms-treatment