So what have I learned after taking two weeks of rest with plantar fasciitis? I’ve learned that no one knows much of anything about this condition, and I’ve learned that swimming is a lot of fun. I’ve also learned that exercise can be immensely pleasurable.
I’ve felt, at least for the past 8 years or so, that whenever I was exercising, I was stealing time from someone or something that was more worthy of it–family, work, church, or some combination of those three. I justified it to myself by saying that I needed to stay fit because of health, knowing that I want to avoid any number of Western diseases. While that justification might work if I were an extreme workaholic and never paid my diet or lifestyle, it is very difficult to use that justification for anything remotely performance oriented.
What plantar fasciitis has done for me is made me reject feelings of guilt that may crop up when I’m enjoying a workout or planning a race goal. Plantar fasciitis, for me, has made me realize that these things don’t last forever. More than that, your body and soul are made for pleasure and not just obligation. If one is built for strength and power, or if one likes endurance sports, these are legitimate pleasures to be enjoyed while they can be.
I have nothing much to say PF-specific because, of course, there is nothing much specific to say. Except that for most cases the miracle cure is something no one tries: rest. Of course there are a few additional components to your recovery protocol, including strengthening exercises, calf stretches, and OTC orthotics, but for most cases-especially in athletes-it’s just time to shut it down for a while. Unfortunately, PF and other repetitive strain injuries don’t come at the most convenient times, and most people are not willing to take the time off. So every day that I am forced to take a day off of running makes me all the more grateful for the miles that I have, and will, run.
I’m not sure I’ll write daily about PF, but I’ll be sure to provide a weekly update. Hope you are enjoying your favorite workout!
Peace and Blessings.