The Land of Denial

I woke up Sunday to an expected snowfall.  Remember I like running in the snow and snowing while at the ocean is unusual enough for me that I could be colored very happy.  So up I got and off I went.  I generally run at least  a bit on the beach and I was about to head down the steps to do it this time.  But there were rocks everywhere due to the storm the week before.  I could have crossed them but they looked slippery and wobbly and rather precarious so I decided to be careful and I didn't go down to the beach.

I continued up to Nubble Point Lighthouse which I probably have 100 or more pictures of but I always take another. I particularly like it in a storm when the light is on.  So here is Sunday's picture.  Honestly it is not one I already had.

I headed toward Short Sands taking the scenic route of course.  It wasn't too slippery and I was watching where I was going.  I thought.  Then all of a sudden I was on the ground having stepped in a pothole. (So much for that wise decision to not go down to the beach.) I got up fairly quickly and things seemed to be okay.  My ankle was sore but I could bare weight.  I limped for a few feet and then what did I do?

Did I continue to limp the shortest route home?

Did I call my friends to come get me since they had a car and I had my phone?

Did I try to get help of any kind?

Did I decide it didn't really hurt and continue my run?

If you guessed the last one you are correct of course and I am guessing I am not the only one out there who would have done this.  I did decide not to lengthen my route.  I also planned my runs for the rest of vacation while I continued this run because I was firmly vacationing at this point in the Land of Denial. Another spot I am guessing I am not the only one to have visited.  When I got back my friends thought I must have gone a long ways since I was gone awhile but I said no it just took me awhile.  I then took off my shoe.  Oops.'

Pefectly normal looking right?  Did I stay in the hotel and put my foot up and ice it?  No, we continued to Freeport and shopped as planned.  It truthfully didn't hurt much and at one point I wasn't even limping. I was very encouraged and still planning the rest of my runs for the trip. I did not share these thoughts with my friends  knowing the reaction I would get.  

The next day when I got up (I was wearing a brace I bought at Rite Aid - truthfully to help on the  run I would be taking although again I didn't tell my friends that was why I was buying it.)  But I knew during the night that I would NOT be taking a run the next morning. When I got up and struggled to put on my shoe I heard H whisper to M, "Is she going running?"  I grumpily answered I was going to get some ice and acted indignant that she would think I was stupid enough to go for a run.  So off I went to the next building to the ice machine in my pajamas to get a bucket of ice.  I didn't care at all who saw me as I was now firmly in the Land of Grumpiness.  I then proceeded to do this off and on for the next hour.

I took pictures of it again and was surprised to say it was swollen on both sides. I had not noticed it the day before.  It was turning black and blue and not looking that great. I spent a lot of time googling swollen ankle, when to see the doctor, when you can run again. All the sites seemed to say, "Never say JUST a swollen ankle, it is a serious injury."  Great.  I did not go to the doctor/ER while in Maine.  

I kept my foot up in the car but again I did not stay put just elevating it and icing it all day.  We went out for breakfast and then went to Portland to Shipyard Brewery. Some of our plans had to be changed because it was President's Day and things weren't open but the brewery was. It was rather a fun tour and a good place to pick up some souvenirs!  I liked the Prelude the best of all the samples I had.

I did head back to the room before going out for burger and a beer to ice and elevate.  This was definitely not the vacation I had planned.  When we left on Tuesday there were many people out running along the ocean and I was green with envy. When I got home I called my doctor's office and they had me come down immediately.  The doctor was very impressed with how much it had improved. He seemed to think I had been doing all the right things to reduce the swelling.  He told me I could swim and bike any time but no running for a week to 10 days. 

 So for now I am listening. I have been swimming the past two mornings and it was wonderful! I have not tried the bike yet which is a good indicator that my foot hurts a fair amount and running is not in my immediate future.  Putting a boot on is a bit of a challenge. Going upstairs is much easier than going down.  I read more than once that you can run again after you can jump up and down on that foot three times. Right now that thought makes me cringe.  So I think I have left the Land of Denial.

Have you ever visited the Land of Denial?  How long were you there? What got you there?