Peroneal Tendonitis and A Look Ahead

Two weeks ago I was in Scottsdale, Arizona for a work-related sales meeting. I knew that the weather was going to be nice out there and since I needed to get in a long run, I decided to pack my running gear. I did a little recon the night before and found a nice little loop that was just under 4 miles. I woke up early (5:00am) the next morning so that I could get in a good long run and still make it to the 7:30am meeting. I took my "long distance" shoes with me. I reserve these shoes for runs over 8 miles and I had only worn this particular pair three times. 

I've worn Asics GEL-Foundation shoes for long runs for the last 4 years. When I went to Swag's to get a new pair back in February, I was disappointed to learn that Asics no longer makes these shoes. The "replacement" shoe is the Asics GEL-Forte. The shoe has lots of differences, including a smaller heal-toe drop and less overall cushioning. I didn't think it would be a big deal, but each time I ran in the new Forte's I had some sort of foot pain during and/or after my runs. My arches hurt one time, the top of my feet another. It had been about a month since I had worn them, so I decided to give them another try in Scottsdale.

I ended up doing 3+ loops and getting in just over 14 miles (the weather was perfect - mid 50's with no humidity). My feet felt good during the run, but almost immediately after I was done, I started having pain in a really weird spot...the outside edge of my left foot. It was bad enough that I was limping from my room to the meeting. It hurt the rest of the day and then on and off for the whole next week. It didn't hurt when I first woke up, so I actually ran two mornings last week. One day was speed work on a track and the other was short hill repeats - so they were short workouts, but my foot felt pretty good during the runs - but then started hurting as the day went on. 

I knew that the new shoes were not going to work, so I took them back to Swag. Lucky for me, they somehow had a pair of GEL-Foundations left in my size. They weren't there when I bought the Forte's, so someone must have returned them. I can't tell you how happy I was walk out of there with a shoe that I know works for my feet. I'll be able to run in these the rest of this season and then I'll have to reassess my options for a distance shoe.

ASCIS GEL-Forte

ASICS GEL-Foundation

So even after taking 5 days off from running, the foot pain was still there. I stopped in to see Kevin at Rudy Ellis Sports Clinic yesterday to get a diagnosis. I had attempted a self-diagnosis (never a good idea) and feared that I had a unique kind of stress fracture known as a Jones Fracture. After checking me out, it seems as if I have a case of Peroneal Tendonitis (a lot better than a stress fracture). Most likely caused by a change in my running gait by wearing the new shoes in combination with a mild ankle sprain about a month ago. The dull pain on the outside of my foot in the midfoot area was caused by inflammation of the Peroneal Brevis Tendon. This tendon runs along the outside edge of your foot and attaches to the base of the fifth metatarsal, the long bone the runs from your midfoot (where the bone sticks out) to the base of your little toe. This tendon, along with the Peroneus Longus, help stabilize and support the foot and ankle.

So where do I go from here? The pain is pretty much gone at this point. I don't feel it at all when walking. I will go for a short run tomorrow and see if it comes back. I have the busiest part of my race schedule coming up in the next 6 weeks, so I don't want to rush back and be nursing an injury between races. If the pain is still there tomorrow, I'll most likely back out of the the half marathon I have scheduled for Saturday. As you can see, I have lots of races coming up...

Saturday, April 27th - KDF miniMarahon (13.1 miles)

Sunday, May 5th - Rev3 Knoxville Triathlon (Olympic Distance)

Sunday, May 19th - TriFest Triathlon (Half-Ironman Distance)

Saturday, May 25th - Buffalo Trails Triathlon (Modified Olympic Distance)

Sunday, June 2nd - Southern Indiana Triathlon (Olympic Distance)

So that's 5 races in 36 days! It may be a little much, but these shorter races will be good for my fitness...and the Half Ironman will be a good measure of my endurance.

Let's hope the tendonitis stays away. Fingers crossed!

Be sure and visit all of my sponsor's websites. I sought out these companies because they provide great products and services.

Swag's Sports Shoes

Rudy Ellis Sports Medicine Center

Garden of Life

GreenBEAN Delivery

Meridian Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine

Earth Fare Supermarket 

Too Close To Home

I've crossed lots of finish lines. Some are just a line spray painted on a parking lot with only other racers standing around. Others are huge productions with lights, speakers, hundreds of people cheering you as your name is called - accomplishing a major goal in your life. No matter how extravagant the finish line is, they are all special. They represent setting your mind to something and following a journey that includes making sacrifices and doing things your didn't think you could do...all to realize the dream of finishing a race.

What happened at the finish line of the Boston Marathon yesterday is tough for me to handle. Not only have a crossed lots of finish lines, I've also been a spectator at many. I remember cheering with my daughter as my wife crossed the finish line at the Throo the Zoo 5K a few years ago. I remember wearing my 4-week old son in a baby carrier and hearing the Lady Antebellum song "I Run To You" playing on the speakers as my sister-in-law completed the Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon two years ago. I've been packed in at the finish line of Ironman Louisville several times. These are all amazing memories that will stick with me forever. I never once felt like I might be in danger while watching someone I know finish a race. I've never been concerned for my family and friends as they watched me cross a finish line. That all changed yesterday.

As news of the bombings started to trickle out, I immediately started to text and call friends that I knew were in Boston running the race. Our local triathlon club members were flocking to facebook to see if our fellow club members were ok. Runners and triathletes are a pretty tight-nit community. We train and race together year-round. We know we are "different"; we embrace it and wear it as a badge of honor. This was a tragedy for everyone, but especially for those of us that cross finish lines all the time. This hits a little too close to home!

I'm angry. How dare someone take away something so wonderful. There are so many emotions that go along with the finish line of a race. For those racing, for the spectators, for the volunteers. One of those emotions should not be fear...and now it will be. 

What will finish lines at large races look like in the future? Will there no longer be spectators lining the streets? Will they be searched by bomb-sniffing dogs hours before the race and then locked down so that no one can come or go? Will they be lined with Police and National Guard soldiers with weapons drawn? Will they move finish lines to inside arenas and stadiums where they can send everyone through a metal detector before entering? Will everyone be on-edge, looking suspiciously at every bag and backpack they see? I'm not sure what finish lines will look and feel like now, but it's sad that they will probably never be the same.

I try to remember that the world is not an evil place. It's easy to see how good people are when you start reading stories of people helping strangers after a tragedy like this. Opening up their homes, offering food and showers. Donating blood right after running 26.2 miles. Giving strangers rides to wherever they need to be to meet loved ones. It's not hard to find good in the world...it's just a shame that our lives seem to be changed by the few evil people more than the millions of good people in this world.

I hope that race organizers educate volunteers and spectators on what to do if they see something suspicious; but I hope that race finish lines will not change. After 9/11 you heard lots of people say that if we live in fear, the terrorists win. I felt that way then, and I feel the same way now. As I type this, no one has claimed responsibility for the bombings in Boston. But it really doesn't matter who did it or why they did. Let's just not let this take away the magic that comes with finishing a race. I hope and expect runners and triathletes to continue to participate in large races...otherwise, evil wins.