My journey the past few months has been nothing less then bittersweet. Back in October 2023 I pulled a hamstring (figured out that dry needling and lots of stretching helped) and had planters fictitious in both feet, after months of cycling through a variety of running shoes, numerous podiatrist appointments, I was diagnosed with a stress fracture in my left heal, it was devastating to think I couldn’t run and was told I needed to take 5-6 weeks to heal.I was in the process of attempting to train for the Jersey City Marathon in April and was devastated. Running has been a huge part of my life and my goal in JC was to qualify for Boston. Since my podiatrist knew my concern he referred me to another podiatrist who specialized in runners and it was at Dr. Katy Trotter’s office that I found out it was a bone contusion and with shock wave therapy (a non-invasive method that uses pressure waves to treat various musculoskeletal conditions. High-energy acoustic waves (shock waves) deliver a mechanical force to the body’s tissues). The shock waves creates a force on the tissues that may induce healing. It’s not clear why this approach to healing works for some people, but it may be that shock waves cause inflammation and improve blood flow to encourage the body to repair and heal itself.Dr. Trotter certainly provided me with treatment and gave me hope that I can heal with the therapy and run as long as I was comfortable 2 days off, 1 day on. I visited her office weekly for the shock wave therapy and began to run through the healing process.My pain in the foot/heal began to feel better and my miles increased and my pace per mile was decreasing.  The shock wave therapy continues to be a game changer in healing and my running journey. I feel great and I am confident that not only will I continue to heal but I will accomplish my goals through a lot of training not only on the road but in cross training and strengthening.I have decided to transfer to 13.1 for Jersey City and allow myself to continue to heal and hopefully qualify for Boston another time.On another exciting note, I was accepted to run Chicago 2024 within a fundraising organization and I am over the moon to begin training for this world marathon this summer. I am grateful for Dr. Trotter, for strength training with Sarah Knight at Knight Fitness and my cross fit training at Max Velocity. They have all had a huge impact on my strength, perseverance and goals to be athletic. Heather P.Dr. Trotter first captured the spotlight as one of New Jersey’s most decorated runners. She competed for Red Bank Regional HS garnering many track state championship wins, in addition to title wins at Penn Relays and  National Track Championships.  She also finished second at the prestigious Footlocker Cross Country Championship in her first season of Cross Country her senior year. Her achievements led to a scholarship to run as a year round cross country and track and field athlete for Stanford University.  She earned recognition as an 8-time All-American athlete and became a 3 time NCAA National Champion while competing for the cross country team title.Pursuit of ExcellenceDr. Trotter’s pursuit of excellence continued beyond the track as she graduated as valedictorian from Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine in Chicago, Illinois. Following her academic achievements, she dedicated three years to an intensive foot and ankle surgical residency, honing her skills and expertise in the field.After her professional training, Dr Trotter returned to her roots, bringing her wealth of knowledge and experience back home. For eight years, she has been serving as a dedicated sports podiatrist, committed to the well-being of athletes from all walks of life.  Among her many passions, Dr. Trotter has a particular affinity for runners. Her profound understanding of the demands of running, coupled with her extensive experience, makes her a go-to expert for runners seeking guidance and treatment. Whether you’re an aspiring marathoner or an experienced racer.167 Avenue at the Commons, Suite 3Shrewsbury, NJ 07702phone: 732-993-9010fax: 732-993-9102email: info@trotterfootandankle.com