Ouch

My foot hurts.

When I'm in the last few weeks of my training, it becomes necessary (at least in my mind) to ignore any and all defects in my body. I tell myself that I'm fine, and I keep moving forward, because the last thing I want to do is consider all the time and money that I've put into my training as a waste.

So for the last few weeks, I've been ignoring the fact that my right foot has gotten progressively more painful. It's a sharp pain in the heel, right where it connects to the tendons under the foot. What's really strange about it, though, is that I cannot quite pinpoint what kind of injury it actually is. I would think it a stress fracture, but it hurts less the longer I run. That doesn't make sense.

That tells me it's probably muscles or tendons. Gross. However, the good news on that front is that there is only one source of recovery: rest. So today, I rested. As I did yesterday, and as I shall do tomorrow.

It also helps that I've had an extremely busy weekend. With four different theatrical commitments, a borrowed car, a needy (but adorable) dog, and a wife out of town, my life has been happening in between  moments of driving, extreme heat, and avoiding a motorcycle rally. You know what I don't really need today? Extra running.

I still may get out on the road tomorrow, but I think it unlikely. I would have to wake up completely without pain, and I don't see that happening, as (strangely) the pain has gotten worse with rest. I'm telling myself that it's healing.

I know, I know. Go see a doctor. It's absolutely what I should do, but I'm quite sure they'll tell me what I know already: rest. Since I'm already doing that, I don't feel the need as of yet to pay someone else to agree with me. Fortunately, I've got a while before I have to race or anything, so if it turns out that I need more rest than I've currently planned, I've got the time.

Run smart, and you'll keep running.