The Wailin' Bitch Trials - The Strassburg Sock

Today, I begin a series of posts on the various treatment options I have tried to cure my plantar fasciitis.  This injury has been so annoyingly persistent, that I have "lovingly" called it "The Bitch."  (starting back with my first post entlted "The Plantar Fascia: That Fickle Bitch," and continued a couples weeks ago with "The Bitch is Back").  So, in keeping with that theme, I bring you the "Wailin' Bitch Trials" (get it?  It almost sounds like "Salem Witch Trials"... and PF is painful, so you wail in pain... shut up, I thought it was clever).

For any treatment where I tried a specific product, I will write up a review of the product.  The first product I ever tried to treat PF was the "Strassburg Sock," which is this weird looking contraption:

It feels just as weird, too

I mentioned Strassburg back in "That Fickle Bitch."  The purpose of the Sock is to keep your foot flexed while you sleep at night because both the plantar fascia and the calf (which pulls on the plantar fascia indirectly when it is tight) tighten up when you sleep.  I think it is also supposed to increase blood flow to the plantar fascia while you sleep to help heal it.

Workout Summary - June 11-17

Another week with a couple runs.  Nothing too major, but I'm slowly getting back out there.

Mon. June 11 - Rest - yep, another week starting off resting (although this time because I ran a 9 mile long run the day before) 

Tues. June 12 - 5 mi Easy Run (5.19 mi, 47:41, 9:11/mi) - I need to rebuild some of my endurance base, so this week was all about longer, slow runs.  This actually turn out to be a bit faster than I wanted (I wanted to stay in around 9:30/mi), but I felt good.

Wed. June 13 - Rest 

Thurs. June 14 - 6 mi Easy Run (6.07 mi, 55:57, 9:13/mi) - Another pretty solid longer run at a relatively easy pace.

Fri. June 15 - Rest

Sat. June 16 - Rest - Initially I had planned on doing my long run on Saturday, but we were going to have breakfast with my parents to celebrate Father's Day with my dad, so I decided to push it to Sunday.

Sun. June 17 - 11 mi long run (11.38 mi, 1:46:37. 9:22/mi avg) - FINALLY!  A long run that felt decent.  In fact, for the first 7-8 miles, I felt like I was going slow, but kept clocking miles right around 9:00/mi (I had to practically force myself to go slower).  The last couple miles weren't so strong (more like in the 9:30-9:40 range), but I don't mind that.  Next week starts Marathon Training!

Total Running Miles for Week: 22.64
Total Running Time for Week: 3:30:15

Twin Cities Marathon Training Plan

It is almost that time!  Starting next week, I will start my training program for the Twin Cities Marathon.  I am excited, nervous, scared, nauseated, and I think I have to pee a little bit.... but no matter, starting on Monday, I will be exercising for the purpose of running 26 miles and 385 yards.

Here is my current training plan (with some explanation after the jump):
 

Workout Summary - June 4-10

Another week with a couple runs.  Nothing too major, but I'm slowly getting back out there.

(Check out the workouts after the jump) 

Hump Day Humor: The "I *Heart* xkcd" Edition

From today's xkcd comic (a must read if you're a nerd):

LOL

Workout Summary - May 28-June 3

I finally had a week where I ran a few times, so I figured I'd write up a quick summary of what I've been up to.  It isn't much, but it's a start.

(Check out the workouts after the jump) 

Plantar Fasciitis: The Bitch is Back

In my first incarnation of this blog, I wrote a lengthy post about plantar fasciitis, lovingly entitled The Plantar Fascia - That Fickle Bitch.  Well, as Sir Elton so colorfully sang, The Bitch is Back.  Yep, I've been struggling with one of the Five Horsemen of the Runner's Apocalypse (the others being (1) "Runner's Knee" (patellofemoral pain syndrome), (2) illiotibial band syndrome (ITBS, which I have also suffered from), (3) achilles tendinitis, and (4) shin splints)).

For anyone else who has suffered from plantar fasciitis (which I'll call "PF" because it's a pain in the ass to type out), it isn't always an incredibly painful ailment (although it certainly can be), but it is an annoyingly nagging injury that is really, really hard to get rid of (short of just not running... which isn't really an option for me, since I have the Twin Cities Marathon and the WDW Goofy Challenge coming up).  And, if you're afflicted with this asshole of an injury, you're willing to try just about anything to alleviate, and hopefully heal it.

I am no exception.

Back in the Saddle

It's been over two weeks since I ran last... but this morning, I dragged myself out of bed early and ran an easy 3.5 miles.  It went mostly fine, but my plantar fascia (PF) is still hurting me... I really hope I can kick this before I get into heavy training for the TC Marathon.


Enjoy your Tuesday!

Updates

You may have noticed a lack of posts about training since I ran the Lincoln Half Marathon earlier this month... Well, that's because I haven't run (or done anything physical) since that race.

As you may have surmised from some of my posts, I have been very busy with work all Spring, and I've been using the past couple weeks as a chance to get in a bit earlier to work and to rest up and (hopefully) get my plantar fasciitis and my ITBS mostly healed before I start training for the Twin Cities Marathon.

Here are my blogging and running plans for the next few weeks... in case you cared:

1. Start running again  - I'm going to do a couple easy runs this week, (hopefully the first tomorrow morning), and then a long-ish run this weekend (7-8 miles).
2. Injury Updates - sharp-reading fans of the blog will notice I slipped in references to plantar fasciitis (PF) and illiotibial band syndrome (ITBS) above... yep, I've been suffering from these two maladies, which are two of the most common suffered by runners (other than sprained ankles).  I've already done a pretty extensive post on PF (back when I experienced it back in 2009), but I plan on writing a follow-up on what I've been doing to try and treat this condition this spring and summer.  I'll also do a similar, semi-detailed write up on ITBS.
3. TC Marathon Training Plan - this will be a bit more in the future (mid-to-late June), but I want to write up my training plan for my first marathon (eeek!).
4. Running Goals - finally, I started the year with some running goals for 2012.  I want to see where I stand with them (hint, I've already achieved a couple of them), and I want to reevaluate and modify them as necessary.

Thanks for sticking with me so far... I hope you enjoy the "ride" (the boring, long-winded, ride)