Yesterday was my first day of physical therapy.  They confirmed exactly what I had suspected – that the 12 mile issue was a result of training that had been ramped up way too fast. Really, that was just a polite way for them to say that I obviously didn’t listen to my own common sense and should have known better.

After not running for a year, I shouldn’t have jumped halfway into a marathon training schedule and pushed myself as hard as I did (although I’m pretty proud of the progress I made on my mile times he he), while at the same time quickly transitioning into a barefoot running style (The Pose Method) requiring the muscles in my feet and ankles to try and re-learn how to support me.  

Everything I’ve read about the Pose technique and barefoot running has said that it requires a transition period to avoid injury.  They coach to slowly ramp up the miles alternating regular running shoes with the Vibrams until after a long transition, the muscles and tendons have strengthened and the new running form can be supported.  Did I listen to any of that?  No.  I got competitive with my common sense and thought I’d show it up.  Common sense won. Common sense now has me rehabbing my ankles and has capped my workouts at 3 runs a week of no more than 6 miles each time.  Good job Matt.

The first physical therapy session was great.  They gave a definite No to running the full marathon in 3 weeks but a green light to running the half – if – I didn’t run it to compete and ran it at a slower pace.  They said we’d use the half marathon as an easy training run on a new schedule to build my mileage back up along with some strength training to give me a better foundation.  Sounds pretty smart to me.  My challenge will be to keep myself from getting competitive on race day and pushing myself too hard.  Maybe I’ll wear a backpack full of bricks so I can’t run fast even if I try.  haha