Hi Linda.... thanks for starting a new thread. I was really hoping you'd get an MRI... but at least the option is still there. And it does sound like the podiatrist is good. I just didn't have the best experience with the one I went too, & he was supposed to be really good. I think part of it has to do with what it is they're dealing with. Mine was my toes... he wanted me to wear really stiff soled shoes, or get a graphite insert that really keeps it (big toe) from bending. I asked him how that would effect other things.. you have to bend somewhere, & I know it can cause problems because I've tried that before. He said he didn't know. He wasn't a kinesiologist... just dealt with feet. I do appreciate it that he didn't just guess, or make something up! but,,, how can you just treat something isolated from everything else? Anyway... I told you this just in case it could in some way be useful when you go. Probably not. When is your appt? Good luck! Report asap. I'm doing ok. fell today... walking, not running! on black ice. I'm a little sore but it's ok. I came home & regrouped , then went to the gym & did 10 miles there. My hamstrings etc. do seem to be getting steadily better, if I avoid being too stupid. I ice a lot. Hi to everybody else. Mike, are you ok?

I'm here, still on the C25K program for about the 3rd time in 2 years. I've registered for the Indianapolis mini-marathon's 5K, and that's coming up in May which keeps me motivated. Very little foot pain from the PF. But right now I'm not running - I'm here in Indy, staying with our toddler grandson while his mom (our daughter who pushed me to run in two years ago) is in ICU with blood clots in her lung and arm; our son-in-law is staying with her, so I'm the baby-sitter, errand-doer, laundress, etc., and am so glad I can help. Our daughter is also a bit more than half way through a pregnancy which greatly complicates which meds can be safely used. ANYway, I'm not on a treadmill, nor outside running, just running after our grandson. And praying for our daughter and her baby girl due in late May.

Linda, thanks for starting a new. Why no MRI? Deb, 10 miles on an indoor track? Thats incredible. Black ice sucks. Ice sucks. Winter sucks. I need to move back to HI. Who's coming with me? Eliz, so you are there everyweekend now for the singing? When are you going to post a recording so we all can hear it? The yoga DVD's are awesome. I just bought the AM yoga and love it. L's, youre still around! Yeah. What a grandmother you are to step in like that. Every new mom needs one of you. Stick to your program even if you have to push the grandkid around in a jogger stroller while you run. Kevin, you ran? Hows the heart? Give us a full write up on the Garmin when you get used to using it. Mike? Are you there? Theresa, are you frozen solid up there? No runs for me yet. A lot of leg pain. I had two pain free days last weekend (31st and 1st) but sore and stiff since then even after swimming. I have a massage today. That should help. Laurie

How's this for ironic - I bought a book called "Running the Spiritual Path" last night, headed out ready to commune with nature and the higher power today, and had the carpiest run of the last several weeks! Nothing felt right - I was overdressed, I couldn't get my shoelaces adjusted right, my right big toe was hurting from rolling a presentation cart over it at school today . . . blah, blah blah. Most of my thinking about any higher power was related to saying the word "god" with an expletive or two following it! Made it through 3.5 miles, not much worse for wear, and feel pretty good now, though. Kevin - which Egg Harbor? I'm very close to Egg Harbor Township (or EHT, as the locals call it); kinda close to Little Egg Harbor and Egg Harbor City. I can suggest a few watering holes, er, ah, eateries, that the locals frequent. Laurie - yep, I'm at the Jersey Shore every weekend these days. Tough gig, but somebody's gotta do it! Not much to record and post, although I do have a little solo in the anthem this week. Maybe I can figure out some way of recording it - after I learn it! Can't believe the stupid thing I did to my toe. Used to be whenever I signed up for a race, I got hurt the next day. Now I'm just THINKING about signing up for Broad Street (registration's not open yet), and I'll probably have my first black toenail soon, NOT from running. Eliz

Eliz--The Plant is right near the intersection of Black Horse and English Creek. I think that's Egg Harbor Twp? We usually stay somewhere on Black Horse. I can't think of any spot that I've hit more than once in the area (except for Wawa ) so suggestions would be welcome. I may be done there within the next month, but not again until summertime most likely. It's also unlikely to be there on the weekend--which means you're in Philly? My suggestion would be steel toed shoes They make really fashionable ones for women these days Laurie--at least it will be a different set of muscles that are sore? I'm now fully electronically equipped for when I actually start running again. I bought a used 2GB Sansa Clip on eBay (that came all the way from Hawaii ) I was a little surprised that it came with 305 songs on it. About 5 of them I would have any interest in, but DD will be happy to take most of the others, so I can load it with real music. pretty neat little device--holds in the vicinity of 500 songs, has a FM tuner, and you can record messages. all in the size of a shuffle. Happy rest of the week to all. Kevin

Kev, whats a sansa clip? Is it a music player like an ipod? Do you like it? I am so ingrained with the ipod that I dont think I would even try something else. L's, hows things? Getting no where with PT. I have an appt set up with an orthopedic surgeon. I know what part of the problem is...one I jinxed myself by stating that I was going to recover in record time. Two...that I keep beating myself up. Laurie

Hey, all, let's not let our aches, pains, ouchies get us down. Reading our posts is like reading an injury board, but the one thing that makes us different is that we're all determined to get better and run again/continue running. My eyes are on the Indy 5K the first Saturday in May, and my goal is to run the whole way rather than walk and run. But even if I walk some, I will "win" just by doing it. Only about ten weeks to get in better shape . . . Our daughter is still hospitalized in the high-risk pregnancy unit at the hospital, not in the ICU anymore, and again on heparin IV to reduce the blood clots in her lung and arm. We grandparents have been taking turns watching their toddler while her husband stays at the hospital, but now that the situation isn't critical, he's at home a bit more, to let us have a break. One doctor's theory of why the blood thinners aren't working well is that because she's slim but "muscular" due to running, the thigh muscles are hindering the absorption of heparin and lovenox. A good thing, though - because of the running, her strong and extra-healthy lungs are "fighting" the blood clots quite well. Let's hang in there - one foot in front of the other. Roberta