Planter Fasciitis is back

As a rule I don't complain about my injuries as I see it as part of the job. There is a saying that says "whatever sport you do, every sport has its injuries". I also don't like to complain about a injury as I've seen so many times in the past that people suddenly develop an injury if they don't perform well or didn't prepare well enough and want to blame it on an injury and jump on the empathy wagon.

Well I am not wanting any sympathy but my injury is back and what I don't understand is that it is in my "off season". I had Planter Fasciitis in my left foot at the beginning of the year and it was treated by Dr Philda de Jager who is based at the University of Pretoria's High performance institute. She also helped me with my ITB injury and assisted the specialist with the operation.

During the week leading up to Kona I suddenly had this pain at the bottom of my foot when I wake up in the morning and I knew it was Planter Fasciitis. I immediately took the corrective actions which I was told to do by Dr during the previous injury. It bothered me the whole week but I managed to complete the race.

The funny thing about it is that it will be so tender and sore when you wake up but as soon as you start moving and after cycling for five hours I won't feel it on the run.

Well since Kona it is becoming worse and at this stage I struggle to run and when I do, my whole running style is crooked and I can barely walk afterwards. I am scared of getting another injury as I am now running on the side of my foot not to land on my heel. Here is a link to exactly what is the cause and all the symptoms. http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/front/foot/plantarfaciitis.htm

I decided today to phone Dr. Philda and let her have a look. I should have done this long ago but I thought by strapping it, taking anti inflammatory pills and keeping the foot straight while you sleep ( yup sleeping with a shoe) will sort it out but I was wrong. She can only see me next week Tuesday but I will rather wait a week than to go and see another Doctor. She specialize in sport injuries and work with athletes everyday.

For the mean time I will continue with the home treatment and concentrate on swimming and cycling. Maybe it's a good time to work on my swim technique. I can kick myself that I didn't go earlier as my training for IMSA starts 7 December and it is really bad to start your training block with an injury, just so demotivating.

On a positive but surprising note I got a phone call today when I was driving back home after work from the community radio station of the east rand. That is the eastern part of Johannesburg. It is called East Rand Radio. They have a sport show every afternoon and wanted to interview me on radio about my Kona experience. Think they are running out of people to interview if they want to chat to me.

I was so surprised and didn't know what to say, so I told the interviewer I am busy at the moment but he can call me tomorrow. He said no problem he will chat to me tomorrow about Ironman and my world championship experience. After I put the phone down I thought about it and really can't think of anything to say about the sport that has now become my life style. Hopefully I can think of some logical things to say that makes sense.

Dejone is also getting so excited about her birthday on Wednesday. She keeps asking me what is she getting as a present. I keep telling her that Hawaii was her present. I can see that she doesn't know if I am serious or just pulling her leg. We are taking her and some of her friends to Pretoria on Saturday for her Birthday party. There is an Ice rink and it is something she really wants to do. They have a package where you eat at a local restaurant in the mall and then have some fun on the ice. Think they will enjoy it.