Today is my Mother’s 65th Birthday. My sister, Carol, and I spent the day with her in San Francisco. We drove by one of the houses that she grew up in, hiked through her old neighborhood, and took her to lunch at a restaurant that she went to for her high school prom. I think that she enjoyed her trip down memory lane.
Archives for November 2006
Who let the dogs out?
In preparation for my trip to my favorite running store, I did a little jog while out with the Lucky dog. I wanted to be sure that I would be able to complete the video analysis in each shoe that I was going to try. The little run with the dog made for a happy dog. Well, he was happy until we returned him to the house and then drove away in the van.
Dr. M (my podiatrist) had wanted me to make some changes to my running shoes. Her recommendations to put me in a different shoe allowing more pronation were questioned by me. Chris and Tim both agreed.
My current shoe was chosen for good reason. It’s true that the black and gray version of the same shoe probably caused the whole problem, but my Burgundy version, that they originally put me in, has never given me issues. We both thought that removing the Stable Trac Insole would probably do enough to allow the movement that she wanted. Still, I was going along with the recommendation to run in a road shoe.
Tim worked with me today. He started me out in a totally neutral shoe. He put me on the treadmill and videotaped my feet. When he played it back, the results were ugly. I pronated so much that it hurt to watch the video clip. Next, he tried me in the road version of my current shoe. This shoe offers light stability which, without the added insole, was a prettier sight. Finally, Tim put me in an Asiacs road shoe that also offered light stability (a little less that the other). I compared the two and was happier in the Brooks.
By the time I got home from the store it was nearly 11 am. I had been boot-free all morning and this made for some tired dogs. Who let the dogs out?
Oh yeah, it was me. They didn’t get very far, but my shoes will be ready for when they are able to. For now, it’s time to boot them up again.
Friends and family
We spent the past couple of days being thankful for family and friends. Wednesday night, after work, we made our way down to my little sister’s house. Carol made a wonderfully tasty meal for her family, and a few of her closest friends. It was not the usual Thanksgiving feast. We ate ham instead of turkey, and scalloped potatoes instead of mashed potatoes. Still it was a yummy as ever. We finished off the evening, dancing and singing (with Barbie and Dora dolls as microphones) to music. An effort to burn off some extra calories.
Our Thanksgiving Day, after spending the morning with my Dad, Tom, the kids and I made our way over to Berkeley for another, more traditional, Thanksgiving feast with friends. Our hosts had the most incredible table that extended across the room. Everyone brought an item to share and there were ample amounts of delicious food. The majority of the crowd went for an afternoon hike, which I skipped. Instead, I cuddled up with my book in the warm sun and read a few chapters. It was a wonderfully relaxing way to spend the holiday.
I give thanks for the wonderful people in my life.
Happy, belated, Thanksgiving to you all.
Permission Granted
This post was for 21st Century Mom, who asked if I was sneaking foot freedom or if I had permission.
My appointment with Podiatry was made prior to my doctor returning from her emergency trip. Although I suspected that it should have been, the appointment was never cancelled.
I knew that the boot confinement date was nearly two weeks away. Since I had many questions, I thought that I could make good use of the time and $15 co-pay. I was also looking forward to an updated assessment.
My doctor walked into the room. I could tell that she feared my return was because the boot wasn’t helping me. Her smile widened when I told her that I felt great, although I had not traveled more than a few steps without the boot. As far as I could tell my foot was getting better.
My doctor wasn’t surprised that I wanted to do some transitioning; she seemed surprised that I was asking.
Cautiously, I asked, “Can I try water running again…or walking….or anything else?”
“Sure,” she said, “I would.”
Then she told me that she would also look into my current running shoe. She said to tell the running store that I had an overuse injury on the outside of my foot. She wanted me in a running shoe/orthotic combination that didn’t restrict my foot from pronating. She stressed that this is opposite of what you would think, but insisted that it was the right recommendation. She then told me to walk in the new running shoes. “Wear the boot for most of the day, but begin transitioning out of it,” she clarified.
I’ll see her again on the 1st of December. She said to see what the foot would “allow” me to do between now and then.
“Maybe you just be walking. Maybe you’ll have run one, two, or even three miles by then.”
I may need custom orthotics if I can’t get off my cuboid bone, but that will be the next step.
Until then…
The Foot
One by one, the velcro straps ripped away from the boot sock. As the foot was released, it quietly thought yipee. It did not want to rejoice loadly, fearing that it would be sent back immediately. Instead, the foot quietly slid into the running shoe to go for a short walk.
It was happy, and yet it felt strange to be able to move freely. The foot wasn’t sure if it remembered how to move correctly. One step at a time…slowly…it took the body for a walk around the block. It was happy for it’s chance to prove to itself that it still worked. It was also happy to return to the safety of the boot a short time later.