It's been 5 weeks since my last LSD or

speed work - letting my ankle get better. And it does seem much improved. I've

now got some reasonable tempo runs and some easy runs in last week and Monday

this week and I feel pretty good. I'm going to try an LSD this afternoon

(targeting 18, but I'll base that on how I feel). 18 is a big increase on the

miles I've been running, so I'm really counting on the large base I've developed

over the past couple of years to get me back to that level quickly. But we'll

see. I'll definitely run slowly. And stay off the hills for now. Just see how it

goes.

Afterall, it's only 13 weeks to the MCM...

Well, I'm not doing so great.

About a month ago, I developed a sharp pain in my right ankle. I stayed off it, used ice for a bit and then went to the Dr. I was concerned that it might be a stress fracture. I've only run once since the pain started - about 4.5 miles very easy and it hurt. The doc did an xray and said it isn't a stress fracture, but an injury from about 15 years ago (basketball) that hadn't healed properly. A bit of weak cartilage had broken off and was twisting into the ankle joint, causing the pain. He gave me some stretching and strengthening exercises. Told me it was okay to run, but to use the pain as my guide - don't run if it hurts. And he has me scheduled for surgery in late August. His thinking is that it will likely remediate by then if I do the exercises, but that it takes 6-8 weeks to get onto the surgery calendar. This way, I'm scheduled and I can cancel if the problem goes away.  

So I've been doing the exercises (not religiously, but fairly regularly) and they do seem to help. I'm going for an easy run this evening - hopefully with good result.