Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Plantar fasciitis or not?

BIKE 1 hr and 17.6 miles
no swim due to pool closure

Not much to say about the workout, just did repeats of [7.5 mins 75% (90s); 4 mins 85% (90s)] until I was done. It didn't occur to me that the pool might be closed due to overnight snow until I was almost done with the ride. Good thing in the end, it would have made my already full day all the longer.

So that gives me time here to discuss a potential injury/problem. I'm wondering, but not sure, if I have the dreaded PF. I had similar symptoms late last summer that developed from shifting to a standing desk. It's a cold pain in the arch of my foot. Doesn't hurt when I get out of bed, like PF is supposed to. Doesn't hurt in the heel, like PF is supposed to. Doesn't hurt when I run, seems to be worst when I'm sitting (!?) or in bed waiting to fall asleep. Well that last one is easy -- I have nothing else to think about!

I've been feeling this for a few weeks now, it comes and goes. Worse yet, it moves around the bottom of my foot. But today it bothered me during the bike and hurt the worst yet so far. On a scale of 1-10? Low, maybe a 2. It's more that I'm aware that something is wrong, more than it is a pain in the true sense.

I've been coming up with differentials and potential causes of things I've changed since December:
1. The sudden shift to wearing boots in the winter, specifically the Ariats I dug out around Thanksgiving, and also the blue hiking boots for the snow.
2. The awfully broken down Brooks Adrenaline 12's I use to bum around in.
3. Standing at work more
4. Taking the stairs at work more, it was a gradual build into it but it's still "more"
5. Taking the possibly bad-fitted orthotics out of the Adrenaline 13-2 and putting in the insole from the 13-1 (now retired).
6. The 13-1's have 550+ miles on them, and I'm only now retiring them.
7. (edited to add) Pushing off the wall at the pool
8. (edited to add) My calves are cramping a lot overnight, especially the left leg, and that's the worse foot. And PF can originate from tight calves and hamstrings.

So what to do? I'm more aware of stretching my feet and toes. I'm rolling them like I did last fall. I'm getting off my feet more. And I'm retiring old shoes and replacing many this weekend. I'm amazed at how old many of my shoes are, and not just the running shoes!

At what point do I call in help?

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