Achilles Tendonitis of DOOM
Okay, yes, I admit that for the last several weeks I have been tackling hills right and left. I HAD to--I had done the flat routes a million times and I was BORED. I really had no choice, right???
Oh, how wrong I was!
So a few days ago I am nearly done with my 6 mile run and BAM! Achilles and ankle pain on an epic, practically Biblical scale. I made it home and iced, elevated, rested for two days. Except I still had to use the foot because I work 12-hour night shifts as a nurse, and we are on our feet a lot.
After two days I tried to run again and it was just no-go. So, it's back to the drawing board: cross-training, rest, ice, compression, elevation, anti-inflammatories. Plus I found some additional exercises to strengthen my feet and ankles which I am making part of my regimen.
I am not liking cross-training, but I am doing it because I don't want to lose fitness while I am waiting for my tendon to heal! From now on I won't make the same mistake about hills--if I can't find other flat routes then I'll just have to do the Dreadmill.
Does anyone else have a "I should have known better" training/exercise story? I'd love to hear them--might make me feel better! :)
Oh, how wrong I was!
So a few days ago I am nearly done with my 6 mile run and BAM! Achilles and ankle pain on an epic, practically Biblical scale. I made it home and iced, elevated, rested for two days. Except I still had to use the foot because I work 12-hour night shifts as a nurse, and we are on our feet a lot.
After two days I tried to run again and it was just no-go. So, it's back to the drawing board: cross-training, rest, ice, compression, elevation, anti-inflammatories. Plus I found some additional exercises to strengthen my feet and ankles which I am making part of my regimen.
I am not liking cross-training, but I am doing it because I don't want to lose fitness while I am waiting for my tendon to heal! From now on I won't make the same mistake about hills--if I can't find other flat routes then I'll just have to do the Dreadmill.
Does anyone else have a "I should have known better" training/exercise story? I'd love to hear them--might make me feel better! :)
"Fall down 7 times--STAND UP 8!"
So sorry to hear about your Achilles. I've succumbed to overuse injuries twice now because it feels so good to knock down barriers until they knock me down.
Last year I missed a marathon due to an IT band injury. I ran a half marathon too hard and had to cross-train for 2.5 months before I could resume running. It was a great half marathon!
This year, I think I was just putting in too much mileage without enough rest. I injured my hamstring at my third marathon for the year and damaged it further when I tried to run my fourth a month later. I'm still doing PT three times a week. My coach said it took him 8 months to recover from his pulled hamstring. Not something I wanted to hear. So, I'm spinning a lot and running some as allowed by my PT.
I love the spin classes as an alternative to running. Swimming, not so much. So, I think the key is to find something that'll hold you over 'til you can get back on the road. I miss the social interaction from running, so the class environment was a good substitute.
Take care of that achilles and know that you can protect your fitness and recover.
Cassie
Last year I missed a marathon due to an IT band injury. I ran a half marathon too hard and had to cross-train for 2.5 months before I could resume running. It was a great half marathon!
This year, I think I was just putting in too much mileage without enough rest. I injured my hamstring at my third marathon for the year and damaged it further when I tried to run my fourth a month later. I'm still doing PT three times a week. My coach said it took him 8 months to recover from his pulled hamstring. Not something I wanted to hear. So, I'm spinning a lot and running some as allowed by my PT.
I love the spin classes as an alternative to running. Swimming, not so much. So, I think the key is to find something that'll hold you over 'til you can get back on the road. I miss the social interaction from running, so the class environment was a good substitute.
Take care of that achilles and know that you can protect your fitness and recover.
Cassie
"Hard things take time to do. Impossible things take a little longer."
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