The Price

There is always a price to pay, even if you are trying to do something better for yourself.

I have had "special needs feet" ever since I was a little kid, and thanks to my dad - from whom I inherited the feet - he got me to a podiatrist in Idaho Falls when I was 11 or 12.  I've worn custom orthotics ever since.  My feet are ridiculously flat and roll inward - or pronate - badly without support.  The orthotics provide that support, and I got new custom orthotics made last summer as I started to increase my mileage.

However, even with the orthotics, my ankles still roll inward.  Over the course of two marathons, a couple of smaller races, and a few hundred miles of training, the constant rolling has stretched the tendon that connects the "shin splint" muscle to the foot.  In spite of ice, stretching, and a whopping total of 11 miles in 3 weeks since the marathon the swelling is still as much as it was before.  I guess if anything makes me feel better, it is that both left and right ankles are affected equally

So I guess this is the price I get to pay for my recently-adopted passion.  I'm not too concerned because they generally don't hurt, and from what I have read "the anterior tibialis tendon almost never ruptures."  Woo-hoo!  Nonetheless, I am headed to see an orthopedist next month and will see if some orthotics that are beefed up even more will help.

It doesn't hurt most of the time, and even when it does it doesn't slow me down.  It isn't getting any worse and it isn't getting any better.  Hopefully, the doc will have some helpful ideas.

In the meantime, I will continue to run.  I mean, c'mon...it almost never ruptures!  :)