In 2009, being a Newbie and woefully underprepared, I spent time in the Medical Tent on Friday, suffering from heat exhaustion. This was how I met my friend, my3Day Angel, Linda so its not all bad. :-D She put me back together and I completed Day 1 on my own steam. Day 2 I got shin splints and had to take the bus back from Stop #4, choosing to cut Saturday short hoping that rest, ice and Vitamin I (ibuprofen – shout out to Bret!) would relieve the pain so enough that I could walk on Sunday and, most importantly, walk into the Closing Ceremony on my own two (very sore and blistered) feet.
Last year I ended up taking the bus, again from Stop #4, on Friday. About 3 weeks before the Walk, while hiking a ridge trail in Big Basin State Park with Dave, I twisted my ankle. On Day 1, due to the physical exertion of the distance and the terrain, I discovered that my hips were also out of alignment. The pain in my hip was unbelievable! Thanks to the Medical Team, especially the chiropractors and physical therapists at camp, by the time I’d walked to the first Pit Stop on Saturday, I had absolutely no more pain the rest of the weekend.
Fast forward to this year…
Sometime Saturday afternoon, I started to have intermittent pain in my left leg, alternating between shin pain and calf pain. My calf muscles are much stronger than the muscles down the front of my shins and I frequently have problems during more extreme physical activity because of it. I stretched more, focused on staying hydrated and walked it off.
Sunday the pain was pretty consistent and most focused on my lower calf. By lunchtime, it started to affect the back of my knee. The pain was getting severe and constant now. I knew I had to do something. I also knew I was less than 10 miles from completing the entire Walk for the first time and I was determined I would walk every inch of those last miles.
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