6 weeks on... first 20 minutes on treadmill!

After six weeks without running, I am pleased to say I ran for 20 minutes on the treadmill today! No painful after effects so I can deem it a success. For the last few weeks I have been swimming, pool running, cycling and yoga-ing - everything I can possibly do without putting pressure on my foot. It seems to have done the trick and I am now pain free. I've also stretched using the many different methods suggested (including rolling a ball and a frozen bottle under my foot). This website has been a help:

http://plantar-fasciitis-elrofeet.com/plantar_fasciitis_exercises.html#.TzRErdnNyw4.facebook

I'm unsure whether I can run the marathon in May, but at least I can re-start the training now and see how I feel...

On the plus side, I have become a better swimmer! I've also quite enjoyed the pool running using the device shown below. Quite unusual, but you strap it around you and run the length of the pool. It's probably quite annoying to be in the same lane as me whilst I'm doing this exercise! (It's a very slow exercise)

Shin Splints

Disaster has happened. Two weeks before the half marathon both shins are hurting - that old familiar pain of shin splints. I've been to yoga and one circuits class this week, but I have now resigned myself to resting. I'm hoping that two weeks off running won't impact on my race too much, but more worryingly I'm wondering whether I'll be able to run the race at all. Last year I was forced to take a few weeks out because of shin splints - I ended up running my race (this time the Bristol Half marathon) but the lack of training meant I was 10 minutes slower than the previous year.

So, it's rest, ice and compress for the timebeing. Maybe some swimming and yoga would be beneficial too.

This forum is pretty helpful:

http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/forum/forummessages.asp?UTN=2406