PDN

Well, the good news is, I don't have capsulitis and I don't need a cortisone injection. In actual fact I have plantar digital neuritis (or PDN) which is basically an inflammation of one of the nerves in my foot. This is caused by wearing shoes that are too tight and compress the foot. It gets to the point where it feels bruised and putting your whole weight on it hurts like hell. So, that is the reason I am not running Grantham tomorrow.

The advice the podiatrist gave me was to buy wider fitting shoes for work (my present ones that have caused the problem were bought in January), continue with ibuprofen and he has put a pad on the sole of my foot (to make my toes more splayed out) which is to stay in place until Monday afternoon when I go back again to see him. He says if I do as he says, the pain should be totally gone within a week, and I will be back running. So, I'm going to be a very good girl and do what he says!

It's amazing actually... ever since I started the training from William and Shaun, the only injuries I have had have been from everyday life (wallpapering for my back, too tight a shoe for my foot) and never any sporting injuries. I need to stop being a complete hazard to myself!
Shaun emailed me today and said he and William had got together last night and done some videoing of the exercises I'm to do. They just need editing first, but apparently there is some airborne running on there, which I can do while I'm off my feet this week! I have to admit that after 3 weeks of no running I'm desperate to get back to it. I have my new treadmill and I haven't even christened it yet!

So, this afternoon I went to the metro centre to get some sensible shoes for work and came home without shoes but bought a lovely new Camelbak. It is absolutely awesome. It's a low profile one with places for weather proof clothing, plenty of pockets for gels and the like, and the 3 litre bladder is great... a one quarter turn to open so quick for refilling and a quick release tube. Well, if I am going to start running these ultras I need a better Camelbak, don't I? Don't get me wrong, the one I have at the moment is great but only holds a maximum of 2 litres, is quite bulky and the pockets are much more awkward to get into than the new one. So I'm very pleased with my purchase. I could have spent a lot more money in the shop to be honest!