There’s No Cure for Stupid

That’s my foot. That’s my foot wrapped in athletic tape. Why? Because for all the years and all the miles and all the advice I’ve given and taken I am still just as stubborn-headed as ever.

A little history; way back in April Jenny and I, along with a couple of good friends, took a week-long motorcycle trip. The Country Music Marathon and Half Marathon was in the middle of the trip but mostly it was about riding. I sort of noticed that my right foot was sore but – being an idiot – I ignored it.

In the middle of May I took another week-long motorcycle trip. I was solo this time and riding my biggest bike, the one that I affectionately call Fat Albert because it’s the heaviest bike I’ve ever owned and I dropped it several times in the first few months I owned it. I had Fat Albert loaded up pretty good – BMW style – with stuff hanging out all over.

Now here’s where the lesson begins. To get a motorcycle up on the center stand, which is what you want to do most of the time when you’re stopped, you need to put the center stand down, stand on the stand with your right foot, and rock the bike backwards. You do NOT want to press down hard with your right foot while you pull up on about 700 pounds of motorcycle. So, of course, that’s exactly what I did. Not once. But several times

The result? At the very least I irritated the plantar fascia on my right foot and more likely hyper-extended it OR tore it. The pain was real and constant. But did I stop running? NOOOOOO. Why? See the first paragraph.

It’s now August. The foot has REALLY been painful so – OF COURSE – I decide that I need to walk/hike and cycle through the pain. And – OF COURSE – I have now rendered myself completely out of commission. I’m taped up. I’m taking the anti-inflammatory, and I’m staying off the foot. FINALLY.

Why can’t I learn these lessons the easy way? I’ve been very lucky. I haven’t had a serious running-related injury in a long time. I’ve struggled some with my back over the past several months, but running actually made it feel better. THIS injury isn’t running-related. Or at least it wouldn’t have been if I hadn’t run on it.

Stay tuned for an update in a week.

Waddle on,John

John and GS 650 twin

John “the Penguin” Bingham, Competitor Magazine columnist Author, The Courage to Start, No Need for Speed, Marathoning for Mortals and Running for Mortals.