Today’s Run:  10 miles

Somebody asked me today how I avoid injury with the high mileage I am doing.

A)  Some Luck

B)  Good Shoes

C)  Solid Foundation

D)  All the above

The correct answer is D)  All the above.

Six months ago, my Dr. told me that there was no way I could run a marathon with my bum left foot (She has no idea that I am training for an Ultra.  I think she would have kittens if she knew!  :).  I left her office thinking  to myself.  “Uh-huh, and YOU are going to try and stop me!?!”  She also informed me at that time that I was “None too skinny.”  Direct.  To the point.  We actually get along pretty well!  She tells me what she thinks and I do what I want.

Good shoes:  If you have been a follower of this blog at all, you know that I just switched brands of running shoes.  This was a difficult thing to do.  Actually, it was downright scary!  I was having enough problems with my old shoes, what if these new ones did not do any better or were (horrors) worse!  I am happy to report that many of the problems that I WAS having with my “bum left foot” are being resolved with these new shoes.  Whew!

Solid Foundation:  For years I was a power lifter.  At my peak, I squatted 335 lbs.  On the leg press I was well over 600 lbs.  I loved lifting!  As I began to be more serious about my running, I had to make a decision:  run or lift.  I could not do both.  I am not a spring chicken and there just are not enough hours in the day to do both.  That may be an excuse, but for me, it was the facts.  Anyway, because I had been so serious with my lifting, I think my skeletal system was a little bit stronger to hold up to the pounding my high mileage demanded?  That is just a guess, mind you, not gospel.

So, really, D) all the above.  I do have to be very careful with my left foot and left knee.  I have some arthritis in my left knee and I think my left foot will always need some TLC.  With the correct shoes (why do I always seem to find the most expensive shoes on the market!?!) and a history of lifting, I think that that may be why I am not so terribly injury prone (and I am knocking on wood right now!).  I really do not know for sure, but that is what I think.