after feeling the twingy heel a couple of weeks ago, i backed off the long, 8-11 mile, weekend run and picked up some extra shorter runs.

so, instead of running 4 days a week with 3 shorter runs and a long run, now i’m running 4-6 miles 5-7 times a week. net-net, i’m running slightly longer totals for the week ( 20-30 miles ) and my heel is really thanking me.

it’s pretty much mostly not twingy anymore!

since it’s continuing to improve i’ll keep up with the new schedule for a few more weeks before picking up the mileage on the long run.

i can’t believe i’ve been back in the running saddle for 3.5 months! i almost feel like a “real” runner again.

it’s funny to me that i’ve been quiet over here about the fact that i’ve been running again! after 7 years trying and trying again to get back into a regular routine after odin was born, i’ve been back at it for 12 solid weeks. i’ve ramped up to 20+ miles a week fairly quickly with three 4-5 milers during the week and a longer 9-11 mile run on the weekend.

so far, it’s been surprisingly, um, easy ( relatively speaking ), but i know from my marathon training days that 8 to 12 weeks into it is when you want to pay close attention to what your body is telling you. it’s all too easy to ignore a little pain in the foot until it turns into a repetitive stress injury that can take months to heal.

this week i felt the dreaded “heel twinge” after a 5 miler. could be nothing, or it could be the beginnings of plantar fasciitis. i skipped a weekday run but kept feeling the twinge in my heel for the rest of the week whenever i’d reach down to touch my toes.

i dropped the long run this weekend and almost didn’t run at all, but against my better judgement i decided to see if a short five miler today would work it out. sure enough, i seem to have run through it.

maybe just a tight hamstring? we’ll see if i’m limping in the morning.