Well, dammit...

Been resting resting resting since the right ankle pain appeared last Wednesday. Over the last few days it has been feeling better but never pain-free when weight bearing. Today there was still some stiffness and soreness, but I really wanted to get moving, and to test the waters gently, so I decided on a nice, easy walk on the trail.

The first quarter mile was great and I fancied that my ankle felt better than ever, I was tempted to break into an easy jog but I resisted. By the 1/2 mile I was starting to feel the ankle again but no worse than usual, so on I went. By 3/4 mile I had to shitcan it and head back out (which, like the previous gimp out on Wednesday, was a sad and miserable journey).

There is still localized pain just above the outer ankle bone, and now some pain in my arch when I push off, plus a couple of shooting pains up my calf for good measure. Maybe I'm being impatient expecting whatever it is to resolve completely in just 5 days, but I'd hoped there'd be enough improvement to at least tolerate some walking - I am hating being static. I'm thinking on calling the doc, though I suspect I am overreacting as usual. However, I'm leaving for Ohio for several days on 6/9 so if something does need to be addressed I suppose sooner is better than later.

Someday...

..I hope to view this as a good learning experience - right now it kind of feels like crap. Someday, I will have run scores of 5K's but right now, the one I'm not going to run feels like the only one. Someday, I'll view this as a part of the journey and not the last stop.

Am I just a big drama queen?...

For being so new to running, I am surprised at just how damn dismayed I am to not be running. This really sucks and I'm trying hard to not be all angst-ridden and shit, but it just makes me sad, and restless to get going again. Patience.

Thanks...

..and thanks and thanks to all for the great encouragement, and advice, and support, and concern I find here - it's made every step more manageable. And despite all appearances that I am becoming the world's biggest sad sack, reading about people's thoughts, runs, races, good days, bad days, and everything else, keeps me optimistic.