I really hate my ankles.

They are lean and reasonably well proportioned, but they are also inflexible and weak. I like to describe them as "crunchy", not an ideal attribute in a load bearing joint. The worst is that they turn over too easily. They have for years. I've been talking about "wonkering" my ankle since I was a kid, although my first proper sprain wasn't until after I started work.

So, Jen and I are driving through Utah on the way from one National Park to another. We are driving through Grand Staircase of the Escalante National Monument along this amazing canyon road which arcs along the spine of an incredible ridge before plunging down the side of a steep valley. The views, of course, are stunning.

We stop in a pull out (not quite well enough defined to call it a lay by) and we talk about setting up a nice shot with both of us by the car and the canyon in the background. While Jen is moving the car down a bit further I investigate the views from different vantage points. Searching for that most glorious vista I step up onto a small outcrop by the side of the road.

After drinking in the depths of the canyon for a few moments, I turn and trundle back to the road while (and this is the crucial point) still looking at the view.

Oops!

Much swearing ensues as I tumble from the outcrop, having turned my right ankle over on uneven rock. I also scraped up my left knee and shin quite nicely in the roll.

Fortunately, Jen has already driven past the outcrop so I do not have the additional indignity of bashing into the side of the car. Even more fortunately, we have ice in the cooler which we use to soothe my ankle. It still hurt though.

This was on the 10th September, three weeks and two days before the marathon. I was not happy, and I proceeded to spend much of the next 24 hours pretending that the turn was not a sprain at all and that I'd had worse and that yes, it would be an excellent idea to hike to the floor of Bryce Canyon and back up! Jen is more sensible than that and simply refused to believe me, as I hobbled to the bathroom and winced at every movement.

We did no more hikes that day, restricting ourselves to a gentle stroll to the canyon rim for sunset pictures. The next day we walked along the rim for about three miles (much praise here must go to Bryce Canyon Lodge's gift shop and their very reasonably priced walking staves), and were saved from more adventurous walking by a thunderous downpour. By that evening of the 11th, the swelling in my ankle had gone down greatly and it was much more mobile than it had been.

I still didn't run for a week afterwards, though.

After the appalling farrago of my last run with Portland Fit, where 21 miles became 11 which ended up being a mere 4 due to illness, I was all set to run some short distances during the first week, lay down a more respectable 12 at Zion on the 12th, and call that good for long runs. As it was, I ran two desultory three milers early in the holiday, twisted my ankle, and then did a six miler a week later on the 18th once things were feeling stable enough again.

I've also resolved to run the marathon regardless. I've received some backup from the PFit medical team, who say that a 1-3 week recovery period for a mild sprain is reasonable, and the ankle is feeling remarkably stable for the amount of time since I hurt it. I don't think I've had a recovery this fast before.

I am still sick about spraining my sodding ankle though, particularly at that late stage in the run up to the marathon itself.

Anyway, here are the details on runs I did while we were on holiday:

Date	Time (Distance)	Notes
07-Sep-2004	29:15 (~3 miles)	Ran in Dinosaur, CO at an elevation of 5900 ft (1798m). Pre-dawn light was beautiful, barking dogs less so. Ran along E Brontosaur Road, and went past Tyrannosaur Road. Marvellous.
10-Sep-2004	29:26 (~3 miles)	We were in Torrey, UT this morning, at 6843 ft (2085m). Difficult start, although at least I was able to run - I had intended to run the day before but was far too tired. This is one thing I dislike about running first thing: I have a job running when I'm not even awake yet. Went west along the main highway to the restaurant we ate at the night before and where we had breakfast later in the day; good outing.
18-Sep-2004	1:08? (6 miles)	Denio Junction, NV - running in the high desert at 4300 ft (1310m). Sure about the distance because Jen measured it using the ATV she was riding; less sure about the time because I forgot to start my watch. Biting wind, too, so it was a hard run. I hope part of that is due to the altitude.

How things have gone since we got nack is for another post.

Posted by Dunx at September 24, 2004 04:36 PM