The Joys of Compromise and Resilience

If you've read my blog, you know that I took up running over the summer and started working toward meeting running and fitness goals. I began meeting these goals, losing body fat % and increasing my pace. It was a great hobby that was both healthy and fulfilling and I was seeing great success. However, once I started my internship, I began running less often; running only a few times a month. It became difficult to manage a full time work schedule and exercise (no excuses...) but inevitably my running hobby got pushed to the side. But this blog post isn't about how I started running less, it's about something that came from it.

Lots of walking NYC!

On the last day of my internship in late December, I walked from downtown DC to Georgetown, where Jeremy works to meet up with him. Halfway through the 25 minute walk, I began feeling pain in my right heel. Granted, I was wearing unsupportive flats, but it was an unfamiliar and strange bruise-like pain. I ignored it, but it persisted. A week later, my family went to Manhattan and as tourists we walked. A lot. Half the time we were there, we were walking. My foot pain continued but I ignored it. 

After the race all smiles :)

Less than a week later I ran a New Year's 5k with Jeremy. He was so wonderfully understanding, maintaining my slow pace and never once running ahead of me. We ended up running through the finish line together (Which was very exciting! I completed a 5k!) However, about halfway through the race my foot pain flared up. My ankle felt so weak and I was getting stabbing pains in my right foot. This was bad, and I knew it. I ended up resting my foot for a few days and when the heel pain persisted, I visited a podiatrist.

After an x-ray that proved no serious issues and a close inspection of my foot, my doctor announced that I have plantar fasciitis, an inflammation of the band under my foot. I got prescribed anti-inflammatories and given some foot exercises to alleviate the pain. After ten days of medication and exercises, I was left with persistent pain. A couple painful weeks, disappointed days, and a follow up later, I didn't know what to do next. Anti-inflammatories didn't help, I couldn't go back to running even though my internship was finished, and it was painful to walk long distances. I decided to do some research on my own and learned plantar fasciitis can persist for years. But I also learned that exercising my foot helps alleviate the pain and biking is a "safe" cardio exercise for a person with plantar fasciitis. So last week I entered the gym determined to successfully bike. And I am happy to say that I have taken up bike riding at my gym! Although I still love taking spin classes, at times the pressure I place on my foot when spinning uphill can be painful, so having the stationary bike option is great.

15 miles in 45 minutes!

Most recently, Jeremy and I have decided to have a "bike challenge." He's training for a triathlon and I am trying to get better at bike riding, so this works great for us both. In one week, we have a goal of biking 60 miles. Whoever gets to 60 first wins, and chooses the penalty for the loser. I'm excited to kick his butt and win!

Although plantar fasciitis is a common injury, having a physical weakness runs the risk of breaking down your emotional strength. There were times I was down that I couldn't go to the gym and go for a run, or stand for hours in the kitchen cooking without experiencing foot pain. But I learned that when faced with a difficult and unsolvable condition, it's important to find a positive in your situation. For me, it was compromising and learning that I can still exercise. Although I can't run anymore, I can bike and my resilience has given me my emotional strength back. I'm going to be just as successful at biking as I was at running! I'm excited for our bike challenge and I'm grateful Jeremy is just as supportive of my biking as he was of my running. Stay tuned to see who wins... :)