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Newbie needing advice: Starting running with tarsal coalition (Read 36 times)

runningfrompain


    Hey everyone!

     

    I do apologize for the length of this post, but I'm hoping you all will understand me a bit through it, and be able to offer some constructive advice.

    My first post, I'm new here, and somewhat new to running again. I haven't run for exercise in over 10 years. I did track for a few months in high school, but was wholly demotivated by the rest of the team, and having no pride in my school. Not nice people. 

    Anyway, in my second year there, I actually did a little bit of working out over the summer, and during practice early in the season got told by others (somewhat humorously) that I was embarrassing them. I'm 6'2" with fairly long legs, and always was something of a natural runner. My AP US History teacher called me "Beep beep," in reference to the Road Runner because I was running everywhere all the time.

    So, I've always had some pain in my ankles, but like everything, you get used to things when you never knew any different. My ankles would bother me more when I was running around throughout the day. I was never taken to a doctor as a kid though, because I didn't complain much until high school years, and my Dad is a macho Italian guy from the Bronx, so he just kind of ignored it, and I wasn't insistent enough.

    I finally took myself to a podiatrist in my early 20s and was informed that my 70+ year old obese podiatrist had significantly better range of motion in his ankles than I did. When he tried to rotate my ankle from side to side or in a circular motion, he said "Stop resisting." I wasn't. Mind, I'd never broken them or severely sprained them or anything, so he sent me to orthopedic specialists for CT scanning since the XRAYs were too occluded to see much. Tarsal coalition, both ankles, and it was severe.

     

    My range of motion in my ankles is effectively limited to rocking from front to back (ie, the motion you'd make riding a bike). I have virtually no rotational movement whatsoever. In fact, cycling is what I normally do for exercise anyway. That said, I'm not really satisfied with it. I mean, I do love it, and I love it when I'm in better shape and able to really dog out a 20 mile ride in an hour, but I want to do more. I miss running badly, and want to get back to it. Just once, unless I find that I really don't have problems doing it (I do, and I will, unfortunately), I'd love to be able to eventually slap a marathon sticker on the back of my car, while hopefully crossing the finish line before literally everyone else has gone home and they've taken down all the electronic checkpoints. (Happened to a friend's dad, lol)

    TL;DR: I need some advice

    I picked up a C25K app on Google Play, and have PlexFit with my Pebble Time (and I'll hopefully be picking up a FitBit Charge HR at some point for more advanced monitoring). I'm not looking to become competitive or run across the country, just run for fun, health, and for me. Here are my specific questions:

     - I'm a pretty big fan of NB for sneakers (I love the 992s, so light and cushy), but need new shoes anyway, so I'm open to suggestions.

     - I drink water like an untreated diabetic, but I always have, and have no blood sugar problems or the like. I need suggestions on how to best carry a good supply of water with me without feeling encumbered. One of those belt things with space for a few smaller bottles, maybe? I like my Camelbak, but it's a pain to maintain.

     

    - Tips for starting out considering my extreme limited range of motion?

    Thank you, all!!! Smile