A Year of Unfortunate Events

    This winter has been a struggle. I have begun thinking of it as The Year of Unfortunate Events. For the last year and a half I have been plagued with a series of injuries and joint issues that has derailed any idea of running. I keep trying, and getting slapped down by pain. This has me feeling an inevitable doom. The knowledge that it is likely that I will never be able to compete in another triathlon. I resist the notion as best I can, but it is a pervasive fear.
   If it were just one joint I think I would be able to work around it. But it is pretty much everything from the waist down. Both hips, right knee, left foot and ankle, and most recently a strained adductor on my left leg. It is discouraging, to say the least.
    The current worst problem is my left foot/ankle. I am getting a fallen arch, clinically known as posterior tibial tendon dysfunction. For the last 6 months or so it has felt like, at best, I am walking around on a sprained ankle, and at worst it feels like I have broken bones in my foot. There is always pain, even when I am sitting. It wakes me in the night with a deep, throbbing ache. I keep it taped with KT tape, have nice little compression braces, and for work I wear a substantial rigid brace. I am hoping that by keeping it wrapped, wearing shoes with good support, and physical therapy I might be able to arrest the progress. The downside is that this is often a crippling condition that only gets worse with time. It is likely the result of having sprained my ankle so many times through my lifetime, added to my current job of being on my feet all day on concrete. Like I said, discouraging.
    All this has led me down a gloomy path. My training is off, my weight has gone up (not much, but enough), I am sleeping too much, and my motivation has gone down the tubes. It is hard to keep training when there isn't anything to train for.
    So, enough whining. I need to get back on track. I need to regain what I've lost. I still have the Bridge Swim in my sights, and have been doing a lot of strength training, and plenty of swimming to prepare. I really have increased my weight training this winter, and that has helped keep me from total despair. It is also giving me really ripped shoulders and back *bonus*.
    This coming monday I will start a modified version of Whole30. A thirty day eating concept that has no grains, legumes, sugar, dairy, or processed foods. The idea being to cut sugars and inflammatory foods, and to help me get past my current carb cravings. I can still have plenty of yams, potatoes, and beets to satisfy my needs. Plus all the vegetables I want, and plenty of fresh fruit. This really isn't much different from how I usually eat, except for the grains and legumes. I am vegetarian and rely on these as sources of protein. But this cuts back the carbs, rigorously. It is only 30 days, and I need something to jumpstart my new training regiment.
    Now, with that all being said, I need to get to the pool for a morning swim, after a good weight workout.