Hi Gang... Thanks for the well wishes, ok...you all are such wonderful and caring people. If you want the boring details, feel free to read. This ordeal has really been a confusing mess. As you remember I accidentally stepped in a pot hole while running and I knew something gave in my foot, and I sprained my ankle real bad. I did run for a week or so with this condition, till Ribs told me to take the entire week off before my Marathon....you all know my Marathon story. The first time I went to the foot doctor, my foot was so swollen that the doctor had to drain the blood out of my leg and foot for the x rays to even show up. After the x rays, a stress fracture - heel spur - AT - and sprained ankle showed up or was diagnosed. I went back to the foot Doctor yesterday because I didn't feel like my foot was healing up like it should after almost 6 weeks off running. (actually somedays it felt fine, others it would hurt real bad) I had new x rays done that didn't really show much. But then he took pictures with some digital imaging devise??? In the mean time, he had me walk barefoot back and forth as he watched my gait. He noticed my left foot - the affected one - was extremely turning inward (pigeon toed I guess you would say). He said damn, this is really bad because that basically showed him I had a torn or almost ruptured Achilles Tendon, and that was allowing my foot to turn in by it's self. Then he looked at the new pictures which reinforced what he thought. He said he was really surprised I made it 16 miles running with this condition / conditions, and lucky I didn't fully rupture the Achilles. So, he said I would be out for 3 to 6 months if I just want it to heal on it's own. And he said he does NOT like the thought of surgery for this condition, and said NO X training what so ever....weights, swimming, pool running. I talked to my regular Doctor Friend late last night on the phone. He is not totally convinced of the diagnoses, and has me set up the see a really good foot specialist this coming Friday. My Doc told me also to keep swimming and pool running and just be careful. With him being a serious runner too, he understands my frustration and concern. Well, that's about it if you made it this far. Sorry if this is sloppy or hard to understand, as I was in a hurry typing this out during lunch. Running - HA - feels like I never will run again... Tim

{{{TimBo}}} I think it's good that you're gonna get another opinion from a foot specialist. The "no cross training whatsoever" advice just doesn't sound right. And I know you're probably thinking you brought this on yourself by continuing to run when your foot hurt, but please put that behind you and focus on getting better. We're all here for you - keep on posting and venting! Leslie, if I don't have clean socks, I dig some dirty ones out of the laundry basket - you're just being a slacker! Teresa, congrats on the 1000 miles! Tammy, hope you get some running mojo for Christmas! This can be a stressful time of year so be good to yourself. And Happy Birthday to your DS! On the issue of rest days, I agree with jdmom that work and family get in the way of running every day. I also think us "mature" runners may need more rest than young folks. And certainly at the fist sign of injury, we should err on the side of caution and take some rest days. (Ribs, I know you didn't mean to imply that we should run even if injured.) Unlike some of you, I don't have any trouble running easy (slow) - that's my normal mode. I feel no need to push the pace except a few times a week. It's warm in Denver today, too, but not as warm as the east coast. It's about 40 degrees, and I brought running stuff for a lunchtime run. The trails are snowy from the storm on Monday night, and I didn't bring my yaktrax, so I'll have to scout out some clear sidewalks.

{{{{Tim}}}} You are lucky to have the doctor friend that is going to give you a 2nd opinion. As for the "I will never run again..." portion ..... well that is just not an option. You WILL run again - it just might be a bit longer than expected - but you will get there. You are a strong man and we are all here for you.

Okay - I know I just posted, but I just got the results from the race: Distance: 30k (18.41 miles) Time: 3:51:36 OA: 56 out of 102 (runners/walkers) Six of the finishers were early starters Sex: 26/50 Age: 4/9 (actually 10, but the last 2 tied)

Congrats! But I have to ask, how is a 30K equal to 18.41 miles? Spareribs

Tim, sounds like a second opinion is in order. I think I'd want an MRI to confirm the diagnosis of ruptured or torn AT and would want to see a specialist to be sure that no xtraining is allowed. Surely there is something you can do. If not, perhaps it is not an entire 6 or 7 months of nothing but something can be resumed after a month or two. I remember not being allowed to do anytyhing but swim for the first few months after being diagnosed with the pelvic fracture, but I was later permitted to get on the bike. I hope you get better news from the second doctor. Crossing my fingers for you.

I forgot to mention, Meg. They already have me scheduled for a MRI Friday morning, then to see the foot specialist after that...keeping my fingers crossed. Thanks Guys! Tim

Erika, your probably right, and why my friend doc told me to continue swimming and pool running. But I did tell the foot doc that my foot never touches anything while in the water. Tim

Got back from my planned 7 miler -- and only did 5. ran into my neighbor as I was coming off the beach for the final 2, and she said, "Did you run in the ocean?" I was soaked. The wind was so heavy with water that my clothes just were hanging on me dripping. We got talking and I decided to go home (2 blocks) as my husband was waiting to go running. It was a workout out there! Very warm, but not because of the wet wind. Heart rate was a good 30 bpm above normal. Glad to get most of the miles I planned done. Yeah Teresa!!!! Very exciting to hit a goal like that ! On the issue of running every day --not for me this time of year. The mental challenge of figuring what to wear is what I need rest days for -- not the actual running.