A poem and an update...

Broken...
Is what our bodies are when we go too far.
Is what our records must be, to move forward.
Is what we strive for our spirits not to be.
Is the tape by a frantically leaning torso.
Is how our hearts feel when our legs fail us.
Is that old time in a dark morning race.
Is what our bikes are after that fateful crash.
Is what we hope to preserve our sanity from.
The only way to live is passionately.
To do that some things must be broken.

I guess the side note to this poem is that I think I've finally found the reason behind my lingering foot problems.  Today I went for my 4th--possibly 5th--doctor's visit regarding this issue, hoping to finally shed some light on why I've continued to have pain.  The answer is simple, and I suppose not so surprising considering my history: my feet's biomechanics are flawed.  The fancy scientific term is dynamic hallux limitus, which basically means that the structure of my joints is such that when my foot is loaded with weight, it has an extremely limited range of motion.  This places undue amounts of stress on that first metatarsal-phalangeal joint and the forefoot in general.  My abnormal joint structure also predisposes me to stress fractures.  Not so shocking, considering I suffered that fate almost three years ago.

So what now? Where do I go from here? My feet are my lemons; they always have been.  Fortunately there are things I can do.  Running still probably isn't the best idea until I receive my custom orthotics, which should take significant stress off the vulnerable parts of my feet.  Ice, natural and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory remedies, and metatarsal pads should help me slowly heal as well. The good news is that for now I can still be two-thirds of a triathlete, and with a little more time I should be three for three.  If the pain is stubborn, I can turn to a steroid injection at the site to help alleviate it.  But that's a last resort.  The bottom line is that it's going to take a supernatural force to keep me away from what I love.  I'm a fighter.