A Cruel Joke

I wish someone was pulling my leg. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. And, after coming from my doctor this morning, I’ve learned that something else was pulled—my muscles. Two of them, to be exact.

Last Thursday was like any other day. Jun, Lit and I met at the track for speedwork. But, there was one particular thing I did different that morning: I wore new shoes. I had my brand new Men’s K-Swiss Kwicky Blade Light on. I was thrilled—as I always am about new running gear—but, as I walked on the track in them, something just didn’t feel right. It didn’t feel as comfortable as the Women’s shoe. One look at the toebox and I knew it was too spacious. It definitely felt wider, too. In hindsight, I should’ve listened to my instincts (as well as the sound of my left foot impacting the ground which, as I voiced out to my friends, didn’t sound that good!)

We did 3 x 800s and we were going on our fourth. Just after the curve, I felt a sudden stabbing pain beneath my toes. I slowed to a stop and told them to go ahead. I tried to walk, but felt pain even when walking. Immediately, I had it massaged at the track. Then, I plunged into the pool for a 1.5k swim—the longest in my entire lifetime!—which temporarily distracted me from worries over the injury.

I was optimistic. I thought, like a bad nightmare, I could act like it never happened after a couple of days of rest and subsequently proceed with my scheduled long run, 35k on Sunday, the longest run before Phuket Marathon. I was wrong. I didn’t cover my run. And, by Monday (yesterday), it had swelled after just an hour or two walking in a mall. In full panic mode, I saw my doctor this morning.

GOOD NEWS: He said I pulled two muscles: my middle toe and my muscle near my shins. All I need is a week of rest.

BAD NEWS: Phuket is only 2 weeks away. By the time I recover, it will be time to taper.

While I ponder on what to do for the next two weeks, allow me to share lessons learned from this sad experience (so you won’t need to bang your head against the wall saying: “What the hell were you thinking?!” as I want to do a million times over now):

Never experiment with shoes 1 month prior to the race. I knew this! But, with my shoes worn out and dirty, vanity (and perhaps hygiene haha!) got the best of me. I was embarrassed to use those old shoes in public and rotated among Newton racers, Brooks Glycerin, and the Men’s Kwicky Blade Light just weeks before the marathon. When you’ve found the right shoe, stick with it. If you must replace it, buy the same exact model and the same size. (Thanks to Planet Sports for sending my beloved Women’s Kwickly Blade Light over yesterday. I stick to this one for now.)
Cross Train. If all you have is running and you get injured, workouts stop completely. But, if you have other sports that will maintain your fitness level, then you will be less frustrated and angry while you’re waiting for full recovery. Swim, bike, run in a pool, take a yoga class. Do whatever it takes to keep you fit and happy. Thank God I have swimming right now to keep me sane. You must know how I turn into a monster when I don’t get to workout!
Trust your instincts. If you go for a workout and something just doesn’t feel right—whether it’s a tight hamstring or you’re feeling slightly under the weather—take it easy that day or stop altogether. Your body is speaking to you and you better listen!
Enjoy the break. I have to admit, there’s a small part of me that is enjoying the brief leave from the rigorous workouts the past months. Every week, I’ve been running 4x, swimming 3 to 4x, and doing strength training at the gym 2x. With the past few days break from the runs (not the swim which I absolutely love nowadays!), my pace has slowed, weight has slightly increased, but there’s more time to breathe and relax. A friend said a one week injury leave made him stronger when he got back into the game. I’m hoping it’ll be the same for me. Crossing my fingers…and injured toe, too!

DO YOU WANT A MEN’S KSWISS KWICKY BLADE LIGHT? I’m giving mine away. Only used for 5km. Men’s US size 7.5. Remember, this is for MEN! The first one to comment expressing his interest below, gets the shoe. BUT, when we meet, you must show me that the shoe will fit you and only you. (TBR reserves the right to award the prize to the winner she deems fit and deserving of the prize.)

Posted on 05.31.11 to 01 Bullish Insights. Tags: Injury. Subscribe to follow comments on this post. 46 comments. Add your thoughts or trackback from your own site.

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46 Responses to “A Cruel Joke”

I am also a runner. I would like be the lucky owner of your shoes.

Ferdinand Tambungui said on May 31 11 at 1:39 PM Reply
- Congrats Ferdinand! You just got yourself a new pair of Kwicky Blade Lights! I’ll email you regarding pick up
  
  thebullrunner said on Jun 01 11 at 2:42 PM Reply
  - Yeah! Thanks!
    
    Ferdinand Tambungui said on Jun 02 11 at 5:55 PM
Thank goodness for swim squad! Heal well and heal soon Jaymie!

Bic said on May 31 11 at 1:44 PM Reply
This reply is not for the rubber shoes. Just wanted to say, thanks for sharing this kwento. Hope you do recover agad.. and I’m sure you’ll still do great for the Phuket Marathon.

Melanie said on May 31 11 at 1:44 PM Reply
I’m interested, I hope it fits me. thanks.

Marlon Dalisay said on May 31 11 at 1:46 PM Reply
elo im interest sa KSWISS KWICKY BLADE LIGHT.. pwde na lang ako … thanks

dabobong said on May 31 11 at 1:53 PM Reply
Hi Bull Runner,

I am fairly new to running and have been training hard the past couple of months. I’ve joined moslty 5k runs but am training to be able to do 10K. My older brother already ran a couple of marathons and is now into triathlon, recently completing his first triathlon at the Subic International Triathlon. I’ve been looking for a good pair of shoes and have been using my brother’s old shoes for the longest time.

As we’ve talked about running with my brother, he said exactly the same thing as you mentioned above, “never experiment on new shoes a few days or weeks before a run.” He learned that the hard way. I know i have a lot more to learn about running, but it is something i look forward to.

Goodluck at Phuket!

Christian Ballesteros said on May 31 11 at 1:59 PM Reply
me! 7.5 sakto! haha

tok said on May 31 11 at 2:01 PM Reply
Hi! i am interested! that will fit me!:) i just fit that a week ago!

Marc Castrodes said on May 31 11 at 2:03 PM Reply
Hello Jaymie! I am interested in this pair of shoes. saw this post on facebook, i clicked on the link and there, i have read the article and wow. i am wearing the same shoe size for men’s US 7.5! have been looking for a new pair of running shoes but haven’t tried any of the kswiss series.

marvin jusay said on May 31 11 at 2:03 PM Reply
i want!!! preetttyyyy….bullrunner…pleeasseee….

Silencer said on May 31 11 at 2:20 PM Reply
Sayang US9.0 ako! Sigh….

Roelle said on May 31 11 at 2:25 PM Reply
I hope i am the first one. Thanks Ms Jaymie.

Rico L. Gomez said on May 31 11 at 2:37 PM Reply
hi miss jaymie,

i’m interested to have your kswiss kwicky blade light coz i have been wanting to have a good running shoes for my running exercises. i just started running again last year in october and been joining races almost every month ever since. i think US size 7.5 would fit me just right and it would really help me a lot

hoping you have a good recovery soon!

-dexter

Dexter Gamboa said on May 31 11 at 2:42 PM Reply
wow I’m the first one to comment! sayang my shoe size is 8.5. anyway, I was able to relate with experience. few weeks ago I bought a new pair of shoes and used it immediately. I ran 10K and OMG, it was the most uncomfortable and excruciating run I ever had! With that, I got a 25 cent size blister and eventually became 1 peso in size. Huhu. Lessons learned.

artjective said on May 31 11 at 2:47 PM Reply
wow I’m the first one to comment! sayang my shoe size is 8.5. anyway, I was able to relate with your experience. few weeks ago I bought a new pair of shoes and used it immediately. I ran 10K and OMG, it was the most uncomfortable and excruciating run I ever had! With that, I got a 25 cent size blister and eventually became 1 peso in size. Huhu. Lessons learned.

artjective said on May 31 11 at 2:48 PM Reply
I want your kwicky blade shoes Jaimie! It would be a privilege to own a shoe once possessed and charmed by the bullrunner! hahaha!

Ron F. said on May 31 11 at 2:49 PM Reply
Awwww…. so sorry about your injury. But thanks for sharing the lessons you’ve learned which sort of serves as reminder since I’m guessing most of the runners actually know these already, but we do get stubborn sometimes… Get well soon! As for the shoes, sayang I’m not a MAN…

Dittie said on May 31 11 at 2:52 PM Reply
sinu kaya lucky cinderela guy

bulilit runner said on May 31 11 at 3:00 PM Reply
im using 8mens, can i try it?hahaha

iamxerixs said on May 31 11 at 3:12 PM Reply
I’m interested. Thank you.

Elvin Evalla said on May 31 11 at 3:14 PM Reply
Hi! I am 7.5 and very much interested.

Norman said on May 31 11 at 3:23 PM Reply
Kswiss Kwicky Blade Light…why not?:), but have doubts on the size. depending on the brand and material, i normally wear a mens US8, malay natin magkasya…..

laurence lumabas said on May 31 11 at 3:34 PM Reply
can i have compression thights instead of running shoes? haha

poor jaymie, but i believe you can make it in phuket. =)

chris said on May 31 11 at 3:43 PM Reply
yes i really want….yesterday is may first RUNNIVERSARY…

robert said on May 31 11 at 3:44 PM Reply
I would love to try the kwicky blade light! Can I try to fit it?

Jigo said on May 31 11 at 4:00 PM Reply
Hope you recover in time for your marathon.

Dunhill Deodores said on May 31 11 at 4:16 PM Reply
Sayang.. 7.5 is way to small for me. I need a size 10 for a comfortable run during marathons..

Recover well Ms. Jaymie

Zalds said on May 31 11 at 4:38 PM Reply
oppss.. i just checked out.. my mizuno wave alchemy 7 is size US W11.. it’s the one I wore during my TBRDM last March and its very comfortable to me 7.5 is indeed way too small

Zalds said on May 31 11 at 4:41 PM Reply
Rest, rest, rest Ms. Jaymie!

I want to ask about the shoes. How should a runner clean it? I remembered you said you wanted a new pair of the ladies shoes because the other one’s already dirty. I’m assuming that the old one can still log on miles.

PeñaRUNzi said on May 31 11 at 5:23 PM Reply
are u joining the 55k ultra in Cagayan de Oro???? hope u recover soon idol!!!

gracey said on May 31 11 at 6:32 PM Reply
Recover well. Good luck on your marathon!

Lito C said on May 31 11 at 8:04 PM Reply
sayang.. di kasya eh… hehe

recover soon…

katol villagante said on May 31 11 at 10:12 PM Reply
Hoping for your speedy recovery, Jaymie! =)

Ginell said on May 31 11 at 11:42 PM Reply
Hi Jaymie!

Thanks for the heads up. I hope you recover well soon. Goodluck!

Amanda

The Sweet Life Runner said on Jun 01 11 at 12:32 AM Reply
Sayang. Too small. Recover well and good luck!

Chris Legaspi said on Jun 01 11 at 2:55 AM Reply
rest and recover well Ms. Jaymie!

Onin said on Jun 01 11 at 6:59 AM Reply
Hi Ms. Jaymie….

Thanks for the sharing your experience.
I had same experience happened to me,but it was on my left knee.

I love too my new Kwicky Bladelight Shoes I Bought from K-swiss Glorietta..

Thanks and More success…

chad said on Jun 01 11 at 8:35 AM Reply
Hi Jaymie, I have an ultramarathon this second week of June. To prepare for this event, last week my friend and I ran for 5 hours from SM Dasma to Tagaytay and vice versa. Now Im 1 week limping going to work, I’v got an injury on the upper part of my left foot, maybe bec. of the descending road from Tagaytay. What can you recommend to get me back into action again. Thnks!

jessica said on Jun 01 11 at 4:20 PM Reply
Of course it will take more than this to stop you from joining any race, including the Phucket Marathon! Good luck!

Ang mahal pala ng Kwicky Blade Light! 6 plus. Glad I got the New Balance discount during the TBR Dream Marathon preparations.

Cramming for the Mizuno, my first 21K. Had to add 7 kilometers per weekly long run, till yesterday, more than the incremental increases in the TBR Dream. Nakaraos na.

Thanks again to the TBR Dream Marathon, I am now on track to joining at least two races each for 21, 16, 10 and 5 K, and the one 42k each year!

Gej said on Jun 02 11 at 11:49 AM Reply
hi jaymie, good u wrote this all-impt review of the Kwicky men’s. was about to buy na rin since we have the same situation (low arch, lil over-p on the right foot, needs stability…) will try the women’s at Planet Sports. thanks for being frank & fair in your feedback (as always!). im sure you will NOT decondition in a week of rest –and your Phuket marathon will be a blast!!! Good luck!

abet ocampo said on Jun 02 11 at 12:38 PM Reply
I wish to have your shoe jamie because i’am a new runner i been running for almost 5months and join some races. i have only one shoe to use my adidas adiprene which i also bought on sale because of some financial aspect and having a free shoe will be a big savings for me… good luck on your future run jamie and hope your injury will be healed…. run happy…

Ryan B. de Leon said on Jun 03 11 at 3:45 PM Reply
Wow, Jaymie! This is right timing for me seeing your story. I for one hav my ITBS and currently experiencing a pain on my left foot. I plan to change my running shoes also. Mizuno is what I am using and I think the shoe is the culprit for my injuries. i am already thinking of buying a new pair of Asics running shoes tomorrow and practice it a few days before the Mizuno Infinity Run. But I think this is a bad idea. I have to use my old shoes na lang muna. Thanks alot for sharing your story. I really helped us (Runners) alot.

Mia said on Jun 06 11 at 1:02 PM Reply
bakit ba ganyan no, tuwing malapit na yung big event unfortunate things happen!

Swimming na ito! You’ll make it through, sweetie

Recover well!!!

kassy said on Jun 06 11 at 1:54 PM Reply
get well soon bullrunner…i’m 7.5 US mens but I have too many shoes so others might find yours useful. thanks though.

anthony said on Jun 06 11 at 3:03 PM Reply