I wrote several weeks ago about how I’m doing the C25K (Couch to 5K) beginners’ running program, and how much I LOVE running now. I’m seven weeks into the program, and I’m running 25 minutes without walking, which is just under 2.5 miles for me. This program is amazing.

And I’m totally bummed to say that I need to throw in the towel, at least for a while. All because of one square inch of my body.

This is the evil, painful spot, caused by plantar fasciitis. I’ve been limping around for a few weeks now, but my last run was really unbearable, and I had to stop and walk for the first time in the program.

Plantar fasciitis is the swelling and tearing of the fascia (a connective tissue) that runs from the heel to the toes, creating the arch of the foot. As far as I’m concerned, it doesn’t seem like an important enough part of the body to make me stop running.

Heart, lungs, brain – these are important parts of the body that one should listen to. Fascia, appendix, wisdom teeth – these are stupid parts of the body that need to shut up.

But I suppose any insignificant part of the body can become painful enough to make me take notice. So now I have to take orders from a stupid fascia.

Today I went for a WALK, which is not a RUN, and not nearly as fun. But hopefully, reducing the impact on my foot will allow it to heal, and let me get running again.

Stupid fascia.

I really, really love what I do for a living, but because I knit for work, I don’t often get to play with yarn in any ol’ way I’d like. I’m usually knitting up a new design, or “piece outs” to use in videos, or samples for in-person classes.

But earlier this month I taught a class (at the request of my close knitting friends) in crocheted granny squares. AND NOW I CAN’T STOP GRANNY SQUARING. I have a new cardigan design that really just needs blocking and a zipper, and I didn’t touch it all weekend. Instead, I did this.

I’m using leftover Knit Picks Palette yarn, which is leftover from two projects from two knitters. My leftovers are from this sweater I knit for my mom a few years ago…

…and the other leftovers are from my friend Steven’s Vaila vest. I picked up his leftovers in a yarn swap earlier this year.

This photo is Steven and his Basenji girl, Kate. Steven and Jeff adopted Kate when they adopted Pona. I highly encourage you to check out Steven’s blog post on his Vaila vest. Awesomest photos ever.

When I met with my knitting friends on Saturday, Steven was pointing out the colors that he recognized in my granny square that were his vest leftovers. I love that.

Okay, back to work for me. If all goes well, we’ll soon have a video tutorial on a ladies’ cardigan sweater/jacket, with a zipper.

Here’s Abe, because he’s cute.

OMG you guys, I’m running.

C25K is short for “Couch to 5K“, a beginner’s running program. It is designed to ease you into running, and after 9 weeks, you’re running 3 miles in 30 minutes.

I started the program after seeing that a few of my Facebook friends were doing it, and doing it successfully. On Day 1, I had less of a “LET’S DO THIS” attitude, and more of a “okay, let’s see how long I’ll last” frame of mind. Seriously – I haven’t run since high school gym class, and I hated it back then. Since high school I have been a walker, walking with and without dogs every day for the last 20+ years. Sometimes I sprint for a block or so with the dogs, but never any sustained running.

I really had no idea if I could do it or not.

So on the first day I was running around the track when the lady’s voice from my iPhone app said “Halfway”. I thought – hey! I’m doing it! I finished up the rest of the run, got home, and then they hit me.

Endorphins.

Runners High, “high on life”, whatever you want to call them. I HAD NO IDEA HOW AWESOME THEY ARE. They make the world seem like a sparkly, happy, perfect place. And they make me feel like I could leap tall buildings in a single bound. Crazy.

Today I just finished Week 2, Day 2 of the program. Here’s a photo of me right after my run, totally whacked-out on endorphins.

I refuse to face the camera without at least mascara and eyebrow pencil.

People I tell about my new routine always ask the same questions – any joint pain? Sore muscles? I’m happy to say that I don’t have any joint pain, and I only had sore muscles after the first couple of days. Instead, my old enemy plantar fasciitis has reared it’s ugly head. I’m stretching and icing my foot after each run, because I do not want this to keep me from my precious endorphins.

On another note, if you’ve been reading verypink for a while, you’ll remember Chris (my ex, now my friend). He’s now a “former corporate guy, who left ‘Big Oil’, sold his home, and is beginning a life-changing journey to Central America.” He’s in Guatemala now, and he’s documenting his trip on his new blog, The Experiential Traveller. I’m curious to see how much of a hippie he’s going to turn into over the next few months.