A Series of Unfortunate Events

It has been a very long time since I ran on the road. I encountered a series of unfortunate events about eight months ago that crippled me and kept me from one of my life's passions:  Running.  It all began after coming back from home leave last year when I experienced some very excruciating plantar fasciitis in my left foot. I suspect a new pair of shoes may have brought it on, but in reality it could have been anything.  As the plantar fasciitis gradually got better over the next couple of months, tendinitus in my left ankle set in.  My left ankle was swollen for a week before Diep made me go to the doctor - who I paid a little over a hundred U.S. to tell me what I already knew:  Rest and Ibuprofen.  As the ankle got better, I took a bus ride into town around the Lunar New Year and planted my left foot right in the way of the pneumatic door that opened very quickly and separated my big toenail from the bed of my toe. That toe issue, along wtih an already tender foot and ankle kept me from any running.

So for these long months I haven't been running. It wasn't until about two weeks ago I got back on the treadmill in Hanoi and worked up a little mileage on it.  I got up to five miles at an easy pace, and I finally got down to Danang yesterday and got a run in on the real road this morning. I ran four miles without much problem, and only a little soreness in my knee.  Hopefully, I will be able to keep it up and get some road time in Hanoi when I return.  So far I haven't had any feet problems, and that makes me hopeful I can get back in the habit.

In October last year I got up to 205 pounds because I wasn't running and I had been going on investigations that kept me from doing any exercise. Once I finished my series of investigations, I was able to drop weight with a regular exercise routine that included stationary bike and elyptical trainer in conjunction with weight training.  In the past six months I lost 15 pounds and hopefully, now that I am running again, I can keep dropping weight.  Only time will tell, but I am prone to rapid weight gains if I go just a couple of days without paying attention to what I eat... or rather, paying too much attention to food. 

I have been feeling better now that I have reached a weight that allows me to exercise longer and more vigorously, and hopefully I can keep it up.  I suppose that will depend more on my work schedule than anything else. Every time I take a significant break or go on a long temporary duty assignment I gain back everything I lost.  All I can do is make sure I don't give up.  Keep going no matter what.