The Stress of a Metatarsal Stess Fracture

Saint Paul Black Lives Matter Protest, 1-2015. Photo by Michael McKinney.

Half Ass Kitchen Bread, 5-2105. Photo by Michael McKinney.

Metatarsal Stress Fracture, 2-2015. Photo by Michael McKinney

Ford Parkway, St. Paul, 3-2015. Photo by Michael McKinney.

Rice Park, 1-2015. Photo by Michael McKinney.

Smallie, Lake Nokomis, 5-2105. Photo by Michael McKinney.

New tires, 5-2015. Photo by Michael McKinney.

St. John's University Stick House, 2-2015. Photo by Michael McKinney.

Minneapolis sunrise, 4-2015. Photo by Michael McKinney.

Well let me tell you, it's been at least three months. Three months of a small little man swinging a carpentry hammer into the middle of my foot every time I walk. You'd think more people would see the little fella, but maybe people mistake him for a Dachshund or a vicious little Pomeranian...I hear Papillons are particularly savage, given their size.

Ha. Just kidding.

Rewind back to the first weekend of February - I'm a little overweight, enjoying hibernation and trying to resume a workout routine at my local YMCA. I lift some weights, I jump-rope one footed for a couple minutes, I run, I load up my overloaded backpack and walk home. The next day I lace up my tight hockey skates and skate around, the day after that I jump on my cross country skis and sprint around a Kilometer race with my Nephew...and lo and behold...a Metatarsal Stress Fracture hits my foot and I limp for three days before seeing a Nurse Practitioner who tells me I'm Shit Out Of Luck.

That was three months ago, and last week I decided to test my rehabilitation with a ten mile run. I had been swimming, (I'm not a good swimmer) as much as I could in March, slowly starting to run on a treadmill, riding my bike again and felt like a solid run was a wise decision. It was not, and I limped for a couple of days.

I have been told by friends and acquaintances that a Metatarsal Stress Fracture is painful, but I have typically relegated it to a slight annoyance, however if you google it, and I suggest you do, you will quickly learn it sucks. So that being said, I have been out on my bike again this spring, and as a handful of nurses have reminded me, swimming and biking are okay with a Metatarsal Stress Fracture, but running is out. That includes running after frisbees, which I also found out the hard way a month and half ago.

So, don't worry, (I know you were not going to be worried) there is no small little guy walking next to me swinging a carpentry hammer into my foot, but damned if it doesn't feel like it just a little bit.

What did I miss...well I've been reading some, riding my bike some and baking bread, the usual suspects. Other than that, feeling like somebody has dropped a bowling ball on my foot has been a little preoccupying. Enjoy the pictures...

Another place holder

Photo Courtesy of ASI Photography

Photo Courtesy of ASI Photography

Photo Courtesy of ASI Photography

Photo courtesy of ASI Photography

Photo Courtesy of Skinnyski.com

Photo Courtesy of Skinnyski.com

Photo Courtesy of Skinnyski.com

Photo courtesy of skinnyski.com

Photo courtesy of skinnyski.com

Photo courtesy of skinnyski.com

Photo courtesy of skinnyski.com

Photo courtesy of skinnyski.com

Photo courtesy of skinnyski.com

Photo courtesy of skinnyski.com

Photo courtesy of skinnyski.com

Photo courtesy of robbiehalvorson @ flickr

Photo courtesy of skinnyski.com

Photo courtesy of Skinnyski.com

2000
Summer TCUL League, Sport Grey

2001
Summer TCUL League, Brick red
American Birkebeiner 53 Kilometer Freestyle, 4:32:31

2002
Lumberjack days 5 K, 23:51
American Birkebeiner 53 Kilometer Freestyle, 4:01:04
TCUL Summer League, Maroon

2003

2004
American Birkebeiner 53 Kilometer Freestyle, 3:28:43
Summer TCUL League, Lime green

2005
American Birkebeiner 53 Kilometer Freestyle, 2:49:36
Summer TCUL League Apu
Northshore Inline Marathon, 1:33:57

2006
American Birkebeiner 53 Kilometer Freestyle, 3:01:13
Northshore Inline Marathon, 1:36:23

2007
Northshore Inline Marathon, 2:07:13
American Birkebeiner Open Field Participant
TCUL Men's League, Subject to Change
Lake Rebecca Cyclocross, 26th
Boom Island cyclocross, Cat. 4, 53rd
The Hub cyclocross, Cat. 4, 40th
LGR Cyclocross, Cat. 4, 44th
Rum River Cyclocross, Cat. 4, 22n

2008
City of Lakes Loppet, 1:34:1
American Birkebeiner 53 Kilometer Freestyle, 3:04:54
Climb for the Cure IDS Stair Climb, 9:35
City of Lakes Tri-Loppet, 2:09:40
City of Lakes Trail Loppet, 2:00:47
Big Woods Half Marathon, 1:50:51
In Yan Teopa 10 mile, 1:25:45
Hoigaards Challenge, 5:44:44
YMCA Cyclocross, 30t
Wirth Cyclocross, Cat. 4, 49th
The Bikery Cyclocross, Cat. 4, 23rd
The Red Barn Cyclocross, Cat. 4, 34th
MN State Championship Cyclocross, Cat. 4, 31st
NSC Cyclocross, Cat. 4, 25th
Green Acres Cyclocross, Cat. 4, 31st

2009
SJU Saints Invite 11 Kilometer Freestyle, 34:56
Marine O' Brien 12.5 Kilometer Classic, 42:30
City of Lakes Loppet 35 Kilometer Freestyle, 1:41:50
Climb for the Cure IDS Stair Climb, Unofficial, 8:46
Mora Vassaloppet 35 Kilometer Freestyle, 1:34:26
American Birkebeiner 54 Kilometer Classic, 3:34:35
Pole Pedal Pant Winter Triathalon, Unofficial, 1:43
City of Lakes Tri-Loppet, 1:48:33
Summer TCUL Leage, Jacob's Ladder and Warmouth
City of Lakes Trail Loppet, 2:03:37
Hoigaards Challenge, 5:34:01
Wirth Cyclocross, Cat. 4, 45th
Bikery Cyclocross, Cat. 3, 16th
Red Barn Cyclocross, Cat. 4, 24th
Behind Bars / Velodrome Cyclocross, Cat. 3, 42nd
Minnesota State Championships Cyclocross, Cat. 4, 23rd

2010
City of Lakes Loppet 35 Kilometer Freestyle, 1:45:28
Marine O' Brien 25 Kilometer Freestyle, 1:17:18
Climb for the Cure IDS Stair Climb, N/A
American Birkebeiner 54 Kilometer classic, 3:04:58
Summer TCUL League, Akita and Jeweled Lacerta
Jon Francis Memorial Half-Marathon, 1:44:41
4th Annual Wooly Mtn. Bike Race, Recreational Category, 34:53
City of Lakes Tri-Loppet, 1:43:42
City of Lakes Trail Loppet, 1:53.04
Hoigaards Challenge, 5:22.15

2011
King Boreas 15 k freestyle, 42:05
Marine O'brien 25 k freestyle, 1:17:17
City of Lakes Loppet 33 k freestyle, 1:46:01
Mora Vassaloppet 58 k freestyle, 3:15:02
Pole Pedal Pant, 1:36:59
Get Lucky 7 k, 31:56
Surly Trail Loppet, 2:01.18

2012
Marine O'Brien 21 K Classic 1:09:56
Climb for the Cure IDS Stair Climb, N/A
City of Lakes Loppet 17 Kilometer Freestyle, 50:04
UCare Tri-Loppet 1:55:26
Minneapolis Duathalon 1:31:18

Nice Ride 145
Surly Trail Loppet 1:41:13
Hoigaard's Challenge 4:26:43
TCUL Fall League, Thundercats

2013
Twin Cities Ultimate League, Mens Hat Tournament, Team 3M
Marine O'Brien 25 K Freestyle, 1:20:52
City of Lakes Loppet Hoigaards 25 k Classic, 1:35:10
American Birkebeiner, 51 k Freestyle, 2:57:34
Saint John's University Red Ride Century participant
UCare Tri-Loppet, 1:55:58

Nice Ride 170
Surly Trail Loppet, 1:47:08
Hoigaards Challenge 5:32:58

2014

Twin Cities Ultimate League, MLK Jr. Day Hat Tournament.
Surly Trail Loppet, 2:04:57

2015
City of Lakes Loppet Age Gap Relay

2017
City of Lakes Age Gap Relay
TCUL, Masters League, Flintstones