Ankles Will Roll - The Lunch Hour Athlete

Training Log For: 11/11/09

Running the last few miles, how to make it to the end still running. Click Here.

Posted by Yvonne

I think I mentioned it a few posts ago, but I got some new running shoes in celebration of registering for the LA Marathon. And just like getting a new car, the first thing you do when you get new shoes as a runner, is, well, run in them. A lot. This was over a month ago now and I have to say that I am a little concerned. I have rolled my ankles (both equally) once or twice a week, that's nearly 50% of my runs right now. I have always had lose ankles, so I can stand a certain number of rolls without too much concern or pain. (I think this stems from my competitive Volleyball days when I was used to several sprains a year despite the numerous ankle braces and crutches galore.) But never has it been so consistent that I roll an ankle or two a week.

At first I thought it might be that I was running more often than I was used to and that I might just be tired. Additionally, I started running in the mornings before work due to daylight savings time, which I am not used to either. I like running after work, it let's me release some much need stress and frustration on most days. But I have to say the mornings like today when I get up and go for a run early in the morning it's nice to know it's already done and I don't have to worry about anything else getting in the way of that. But at the same time, I have also come to notice that when I do run in the morning it's never failed me so far that I turn an ankle. This morning was no exception. In fact, today it happened on the tail end of my run and I was feeling so good, but then it happened. My left ankle went out on me. It was so painful I had to stop and nearly couldn't walk for a moment or too. I walked it off and finished the last 5 minutes of my run without too much notice of it.

I was talking to another friend of mine who runs and she mentioned to me that it might be due to the new shoes. She said that since they are "stability" shoes and I already have orthotics to compensate for all the issues that "stability" shoes are supposed to compensate for as well, that I might be over compensating now wearing both. But I have always had both? And never this consistent problem with the ankles. Is it possible that the orthotics are just not right for me anymore? Can feet change that drastically so quickly? Anyhow, for now I will deal with sore ankles as long as that's all it is and lots of ice. The last thing I want is to be on the injured list, as the training should be officially starting on Monday. Yippeee! And this LA Marathon looks like it might be the best yet, they just released the race map on Monday. Additionally I found out that it's the 25th anniversary of the LA Marathon, and my mom ran the first one ever! How perfect! Can't get more excited than this.