ICE ICE BABY

Two days before the start of the Chicago Marathon, my body is in total chaos, to be exact my right foot. After my 5k race last Saturday, my foot swelled up and I was gimping around in pain the whole day Sunday.

Not sure how it got that way, do we really know why our body decides to swell up like a mushroom "puffball"? I think it was due to the fact I had to run around everybody in the 5k race. Running thru the grass, dodging small tress along the way to get some running room among the critical mass of 2400 runners. I think I might have to stick to the long races, these
short ones, my body no likey.

So Tuesday rolls along, hoping for Divine intervention I decide not to do anything about it. No running, a little bit of swimming. Rest was a good idea, but going for a 60 minute swim was a bad idea. Felt okay swimming, but I think it aggravated my foot more than anything else. From the looks of it, and from TriAl's injury post of his war football wounds, I think I might have a small ankle sprain. I can't rationalize it any other way. The pain is coming from different sides of my foot; top, bottom, near my joints. So it could be a case of plantar faciitis, ankle sprain, a muscle tear, or a little of each. Is that possible?

So for now I have been doing some emergency icing on my foot. I can actually walk kinda of normal now, but running might be an issue this weekend. I never have been so under-trained and injured for a race in my life (internal injuries I'm not counting right now). A DNF might be a possibility but a DNS (Did Not Start) will not a option. I'm just not pre-programmed that
way, so a DNF might not be an option also.

Along with the forecast of high 40's, rain mixed with snow. I think they call that "SLEET". It is going to be a painful and slow day "at the office" for me.

But wait, there is more, along with the marathon, I'm trying to cram in some performance testing in before the weekend and pending surgery next week. LT/Vo2max testing on a treadmill, maybe not a good idea right now, a short 17-20 minute test, so hopefully it will not aggravate my condition even more. Also later that day swim stroke analysis in a endless pool with my Total Immersion masters swim coach. Then off to the marathon expo.

So if anybody has any suggestion on what to do on race
day about my foot?

1) Should I tape my foot
2) Ask for a carbon foot at the TRI store
3) Look for a new foot at the marathon expo
4) Tie my shoe tight
5) Shave my legs
6) Have my head examined

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Not racing I have to say is "La La La", I don't hear that!
Pain medication (Aspirin, Motrin) is a NO NO right now, something about allowing my blood to clot during my hernia surgery next week.

For everybody coming to Chi-town this weekend, bring winter gear and maybe some anti-Sleet gear. Good luck to all.