It’s Official: Plantar Fasciitis = No Marathon

Perhaps this is the universe trying to tell me that only a dude in Greece with a “Niki!” message was meant to run this distance.

After 4 months of solid training, feeling pretty good, increasing the kilometers at a steady pace, getting mentally set for game day, I am faced with the most painful foot condition with the most horrendous name. Wiki says:

Plantar Fasciitis: a painful inflammatory condition caused by excessive wear to the plantar fascia of the foot. The pain usually is felt on the underside of the heel, and is often most intense with the first steps of the day…. It is commonly associated with long periods of weight bearing… shoes with little or no arch support…
(I think these few were the culprits. Ugg Boots are Bad!)

Plantar Fasciitis – just the name itself is enough to make one wince.

As I sit here typing, I am rolling and massaging my feet over 2 frozen cans of OJ – a neat trick of cool compression therapy advice from my sister. And with this impossible condition, one is supposed to just “stay off your feet” – huh? How is this possible? So I’ve hired some unemployeed lackeys as my support team to bring me beverages, food and hockey games on the tele. Not a bad time of the year to be off my feet, really.

Last year I ran the Vancouver Marathon 4 weeks after a rather disturbing concussion. I made out okay, just under 4 hours. This year I was hoping to have a go at 42 km with nothing in my way of making a great time. I even had hopes of Boston in my sight. Ack! It’s disappointing not to reach those big goals.

I don’t think I’ll be drinking the orange juice in these cans under my swollen, sore feet. I hate feet.

  1. Megan, my heart goes out to you. What a shame.

    I too have had troubles with my training; my left ankle has been swollen and sore for the last three weeks, and I have completed some very long training runs with pain in every step. I think I’m healing though (fingers crossed).

    I wish you a fast recovery, and remind you that the Victoria Marathon is also a qualifier, and doesn’t go for a few months, if I’m not mistaken.

    Monitor our progress training for our first: http://teambehan.wordpress.com

  2. Megan. Sorry to hear that after 4 months of hard work, you’re not able to run. I hope you’ll have a fast recovery. Good luck!

    Rahim

  3. Hi,

    if you have plantar faciitis, do not make the mistake i did and train on it. I have had it now for 2.5 years and seem to almost recover every other week. Go to http://www.heelspurs.com – its the best i have found there are 2 pages that is actually a free book that was compiled by the author who had / had this condition. Good luck

  4. I know this is an old post, but I found it will searching for information on plantar fasciitis. Since other folks may also find this post when looking for info on plantar fasciitis, I figured I’d throw in my my two cents.

    One of the best ways to prevent and relieve plantar fasciitis is to wear the right shoes. There are attractive orthopedic running shoes available (http://www.footsourcemd.com/products/detail.dT/31) to combat plantar fasciitis causes and symptoms.

    But even when you’re not running, it’s still important to wear the right shoes. Stylish shoes for women that provide orthopedic support seem to be at the top of any foot health conscious female’s shopping list.

    FootsourceMD’s collection of Ziera (http://www.footsourcemd.com/products/browse.dT/shoes/kumfsziera) and Orthaheel (http://www.footsourcemd.com/products/browse.dT/shoes/orthaheel) shoes are orthopedic footwear disguised as fashionable shoes.

    FootsourceMD also has other plantar fasciitis splints (http://www.footsourcemd.com/products/detail.dT/95) and other relief products that will help your feet feel better.

    Good luck in the battle against plantar fasciitis!

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