I have embarked on a bit of a crazy quest to run the Dopey Challenge in 2020. It’s in Walt Disney World in January 2020 and takes place over 4 consecutive days of a 5k, 10k, half marathon, and full marathon. I’m trying to document my training weekly to help keep me on track! I am following the Jeff Galloway training plan.
I am now 3+ weeks since I sprained my toe and it doesn’t feel like it’s ever going to get better. I guess it feels slightly better than it did at first but it feels nowhere near okay. From everything I’ve read a mild sprain would clear in about two weeks, more serious ones can take “up to 6 weeks.” I’m more than halfway to what they consider the “worst case scenario” and I just don’t feel like it’s going to be better soon.
Running
What was supposed to happen this week: running for 25 minutes on Tuesday and Thursday, then a long 7 mile run over the weekend. What actually happened: rest on Tuesday, then attempt a short 2 mile run on Thursday. My toe feels mostly fine day to day just walking around so it’s hard to tell what will happen when I run. And honestly, I ran 1.8 miles without pain. Then I stepped on it a certain way and it’s like a sharp pain that comes on all of the sudden. So I limped back the other .2 miles and accepted that I still can’t run.
Sunday morning I decided to go for a walk. For whatever reason it doesn’t hurt to just walk, only sometimes when I run. So I walked 5.5 miles. I was going to try and walk for a full 7 to attempt to at least somewhat stick to my training plan, but a friend was in the area so I decided to go meet up instead! Plus I figured I didn’t want to push anything too far, even though walking feels okay.
Other Activities
I did go to yoga on Wednesday morning. For the most part and I can do yoga okay with some slight modifications – only certain poses are difficult when they involve standing on your toes. Unfortunately one of the most common poses, downward dog, hurts a bit for me. But I did my best to work around it.
Upcoming
I’m a little nervous because I have a lot of activities coming up that will involve being active, even if it doesn’t directly involve running. I’ll be in Disney for the weekend and we know the theme parks involve a lot of running. I’m also signed up to run the Philly 10k in two weeks – it’s still two weeks away but the way I’m feeling right now it doesn’t feel like anything will ever get better. Then a week after that we leave for our Alaska cruise. That will be 6 weeks after the injury so theoretically it should be okay. I’m hoping so because we are signed up for a rock climbing excursion in Alaska.
I don’t really have a question for you to answer in the comments – just tell me it’s going to be better eventually and I can run again in a few weeks!
I can tell you for certain what Jeff would say about your schedule during your injury (since I have had e-coaching with him for years). He would say to simply walk your entire schedule while it’s healing. That includes the weekdays, but ESPECIALLY the long ones. Once running does not cause any pain, you can gradually add it back in. This way, you are not behind in your endurance (walking the long ones will still give you all of the endurance-one of Jeff’s key principles). As a nurse practitioner, I can tell you that you WILL heal, but you will heal faster if you stop pushing it. Just walk for a couple of weeks before even attempting to run on it. I’d go out and walk a 7-miler today or tomorrow in place of one of the 45 minute ones. That way you will be all caught up. Don’t despair! It sucks to have to wait for injuries to heal. 🙁