Just had to try again...

OK, so yesterday morning, my foot was pretty sore and swollen and justifiably angry at me for taking it for a run the day before. I can't blame Mr. Foot, 'cause I'd be whining just as loud as he was.

So, what do you do when you are limping about and feeling pretty down about life?

That's right - - - you go over to a friend's house and hang by the pool! ChuckMoe's pool was the perfect prescription for a sore foot. And I think the beer helped too...

So, when I woke up today, and the Newtons were calling my name I took a few cautious steps. I walked all the way to the kitchen, then back again. "Hmmm, not tooooo awful," I said to myself. "What do you think, Boca?" My cat just looked up at me and said, "Feed me now." Yeah, that's pretty much how ALL of our conversations go...

Anyway, I didn't feel like going to the gym. Besides, with my luck, today being a holiday, I would probably get there and find out that it was closed. But I was still curious to see how my foot had rebounded from the treadmill.

I didn't want to just open my front door and start running. I mean, what if I went a hundred yards or so and had to turn back? I wouldn't want my neighbors laughing at me for being such a wimp. So, where could I run? I could head over to the track at the community college... Wait, back to that holiday thing. Maybe it is closed? I've hopped the fence before, but always knowing I'd be able to outrun a grounds keeper if it came down to that. No confidence in doing that now!

Then I remembered that there is a park nearby where the community college's cross country team (or maybe it is the local high school team?) runs a 1K loop. Perfect! Even if my heel made me quit halfway around the first loop, I could just cut across and hobble back to my truck.

I started slowly around the first loop. Hmmm, not too bad. I switched from running on the road loop to the inside grass for the second loop. 2K down. Maybe a couple of twinges, but nothing too bad. Should I try a third loop? Aw, heck, why not? But by the end of the third loop, the left heel was getting sore, so I called it a morning. Normally I'd be all depressed by only going 3K, but I'm quickly coming to the realization that I'm lucky to be running AT ALL.

So, that's my plan for now. Short runs on grass. I have nothing to prove to anybody. Forget about distance. Forget about speed. None of that matters right now. Sure, I've only got until April to get into shape for Ironman Arizona, and either that will happen or it won't. Maybe the feet will be fine, or maybe they won't. I'm just happy to be running tiny little bits right now.

I just have to stay positive and take it 3K at a time.