This injury of the right leg is bizarre, puzzling and a tiny bit scary because it is bizarre and puzzling.
My last run was a little over two weeks ago, on May 15th. Since then I have continued my 5K walks during lunch (with one exception, on a rare soggy day) and have also walked about the same on the weekends. The pattern has typically been the same: a slower pace than before the leg was hurt, but varying from pretty close to normal to decidedly on the pokey side (though still a brisk pace for the average person).
The weird part is how the ankle is behaving. Sometimes in the morning or after sitting for an extended period, like in a meeting, it gets very stiff and sore, enough that I almost limp while walking on it. In the best case this will largely vanish after walking for just a few seconds at a normal pace. The worst case will see the pain/limping disappear after a few minutes, replaced by a general achiness.
The worst instance of the latter happened Friday at work after a one hour meeting. The ankle was astoundingly tender, I was hobbling about enough to draw concern from co-workers, then, while climbing the stairs to the second floor to check a lab, I found it hurting so much I had to stop walking and just hung on to the railing with both hands, afraid I might not be able to hold myself upright otherwise.
I checked the lab and by the time I came back down the stairs I was walking normally again, with no sign of a limp and no real pain. I even did a little jig to demonstrate to a co-worker how suddenly A-OK I was.
It is weird. I don’t understand it. But I know I don’t like it and each day it feels like I’m not getting any closer to a return to running. I may have to call in the experts. By which I mean go to the doctor.
Stupid leg.
