by Monica on May 21, 2009
I have been stretching my foot every time I think about it since I started Physical Therapy. My foot was in a boot for 6 weeks due to a stress fracture. The sports doctor also found a heel spur that is associated with tightness and soreness of my Plantar Fascia. I have been prescribed a twice a day (and whenever I think about it) routine of a series of 6 stretches to do at home. This coupled with my PT sessions of ultrasound and deep massage are all part of the plan to accelerate my healing so I can finally start running again. I have been religiously complying to this effort and today I woke up with HAPPY FEET (very mild tightness…no pain). I have heard many conflicting theories on whether or not runners really do need to stretch and although I have always done a little, I am now a convert on the pro-stretching side. After reading the Dara Torres book in which she is fanatical about her middle aged daily stretching (and don’t we wish we all had someone to do it for us as she does!). I thought it could help this 46 year old runner. It looks like it’s working. I will mark this day as progress in my recovery journal categorized as: Stretching-the truth.
For a peek at some of the stretches I have been doing go to: CYBER PT
by Monica on March 20, 2009
I finally went to the doctor today to check out the constant nagging pain in my foot. The one that has been keeping me off the road and out of the Boston Marathon. Feeling a bit defeated, I decided to get an official diagnosis. The doctor thinks it is a stress fracture or heel spur and sent me for an x-ray. On my way out of the house, I grabbed the mail which included the newest edition of More magazine (April 2009 issue).
As I sat there, if there was an ounce of pity in my thinking, it was now gone after reading the cover article on Dana Torres. Motivation in the form of a 42 year old fireball. I read the excerpt from her new book, Age is Just a Number , and was completely engaged. She describes the tedious, mythodical pre-race ritual for her Olympic medal winning effort. Funny, honest and totally inspiring commentary from a hard working perfectionist.
I love it when she says…”you don’t have to put an age limit on your dreams, that the real reason most of us fear middle age is that middle age is when we give up on ourselves”. (this is why we run ladies!)
I chuckled at her describing her rolling suitcase being laughed at by the younger swimmers and was intrigued by her relationship to her body. It’s a great article and truely made me re-think the way I look at my own injury. I look forward to reading her book. Go Dara! You’re amazing.
