Dr. Wisner described the knot in my right calf as an “iron rod.”
It was the root of the pain in my right heel that I thought was plantar fasciitis, and the “iron rod” needed to be broken as soon as possible if my goals for the next few weeks were to happen.
I ran five miles on Tuesday on the River Trails in Lawrence, and by the time it was done it was excruciating to walk. Within moments of Dr. Wisner digging into that knot in my calf on Thursday and busting up the scar tissue, however, I could literally feel the heel de-pressurize a bit. I ran four miles on Friday evening and only noticed some minor discomfort in the heel because I focused on the heel every single step.
By Saturday night – barely 48 hours after Dr. Wisner attacked the “iron rod” – I ran 12 completely pain-free miles with friends at Coleen’s Sweaty Ass Run at the Prairie Center in Olathe. Chatting all the way, I didn’t focus on the heel while running, and the heel did nothing to try to recapture my attention.
What a relief!
The heel is happy again, and my legs feel fresher than they have in months thanks to the extra rest they’ve had this week. Now, just one test stands between them and race day at the Meet Your Maker 50 – pacing at the Leadville 100.
My legs are ready to go with Sherrie Klover for about 25 miles – including over Hope Pass – before handing her over to pacer extraordinaire Larry Long who will take her the home stretch.
After that, it’ll be two weeks of tapering until race day in Whistler.
Outside of pacing and keeping my legs moving for a few more weeks, the most critical items for me to take care of are continuing to manage my nutrition and continuing to aggressively attack my calves with the roller to make sure the “iron rod” does not return. If I take care of those, then I should be ready to take on Blackcomb Mountain and the other 12,200 feet of vertical at the MYM50 three weeks from today.
This week’s totals:
Total running miles: 21 miles
Total cycling miles: 21.5
