Thursday, April 26, 2007
I Have Achilles Tendonitis
It's official. I have Achilles Tendonitis. I had kind of diagnosed myself with it so was a pretty good self diagnosis!
I saw the physio today. I wasn't sure what to expect and was a wee bit nervous. When I went into her office, the first thing she said was "Wear did you get your trousers?" I took off my shoes and socks (should have changed my socks!) and she said "Your feet are terrible!" and then "Oh I am so rude!"
My feet are awful- my toes are all odd sizes and I have totally flat feet- I was born with them like this!
She made her diagnosis and gave me a massage (and I remembered I hate my legs being touched!) and I had some ultrasound.
And then she said not to run!!! Ok it does make sense... she said if we nip it in the bud now, it will be much better than leaving it and dealing with a possibly chronic condition. I am allowed to cross train, though, so will go to the gym tonight and give the elliptical trainer, stepper, rower and bike a good work out. No running. Honest!
I saw the physio today. I wasn't sure what to expect and was a wee bit nervous. When I went into her office, the first thing she said was "Wear did you get your trousers?" I took off my shoes and socks (should have changed my socks!) and she said "Your feet are terrible!" and then "Oh I am so rude!"
My feet are awful- my toes are all odd sizes and I have totally flat feet- I was born with them like this!
She made her diagnosis and gave me a massage (and I remembered I hate my legs being touched!) and I had some ultrasound.
And then she said not to run!!! Ok it does make sense... she said if we nip it in the bud now, it will be much better than leaving it and dealing with a possibly chronic condition. I am allowed to cross train, though, so will go to the gym tonight and give the elliptical trainer, stepper, rower and bike a good work out. No running. Honest!
I asked her what happens when it 'grinds' when you move it. She said that the tendon is housed in a sheath, and when under stress it swells, so there is not much room for it to run smoothly through the sheath...
I mentioned that I had entered an Ultra event on 2009 so of course she asked what it was. When I told her, her cheery response was "What on earth possessed you to enter that?!?" Although she did once have a client who had done the MdS... she didn't elaborate further though, but I did gather his injuries happened after the event and not during!Labels: achilles pain, achilles tendonitis, gym
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Damn and Blast!
Blast!! I decided to do a short, slow run last night, and had quite a bit of discomfort from my heel. I ended up doing an extremely slow 4 1/2 miles.
Oddly enough, it feels absolutely fine today... not a trace of any discomfort however I move it!
Could it be the new shoes?? I'm not really sure what to do now; whether to run again in the old shoes and see how it feels, or just persevere with the new ones.
It's bloody typical; I feel that I am right at the start of my MdS training and I have a bloody injury!
On a bit of a lighter (literally!) note, I kept a diary of treks I've done in the past- Peru in 2003 and the Tour de Mont Blanc in 2004. I intend to create a web site about these when I get the chance! Anyway, I kept a diary, which I haverecently been rereading. It's quite funny! When I did these treks, I weighed around 12 1/2 stones, and the diary entries were filled with panic about not losing weight and not doing more exercise.... I used to worry like mad before I went!
I am off to Morocco in a few weeks, trekking in the Atlas Mountains with Explore Worldwide, and I'm not worried! Cos I'm now 9 stone 10lbs and a heck of a lot fitter!
Oddly enough, it feels absolutely fine today... not a trace of any discomfort however I move it!
Could it be the new shoes?? I'm not really sure what to do now; whether to run again in the old shoes and see how it feels, or just persevere with the new ones.
It's bloody typical; I feel that I am right at the start of my MdS training and I have a bloody injury!
On a bit of a lighter (literally!) note, I kept a diary of treks I've done in the past- Peru in 2003 and the Tour de Mont Blanc in 2004. I intend to create a web site about these when I get the chance! Anyway, I kept a diary, which I haverecently been rereading. It's quite funny! When I did these treks, I weighed around 12 1/2 stones, and the diary entries were filled with panic about not losing weight and not doing more exercise.... I used to worry like mad before I went!
I am off to Morocco in a few weeks, trekking in the Atlas Mountains with Explore Worldwide, and I'm not worried! Cos I'm now 9 stone 10lbs and a heck of a lot fitter!
Labels: achilles pain, Explore, Morocco, trekking
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Good Signs
Went to the gym today, and did the usual 20 minutes on the elliptical trainer to warm up, then decided to try running and see how the achilles felt. So I hopped on the treadmill, and as I warmed up, I could feel it but it wasn't actually hurting. Over time it didn't get worse, but actually subsided, so I did more than I intended; 25 minutes running, but didn't go faster than 6.3mph.
After that I did the usual round of the weights, 20 minutes on the stepper, then used the bike and rower, with absolutely no problems. I can't feel my achilles at all now, so hopefully it is going to just do what the right one did last year, and the symptoms will disappear.
I have ordered a new pair of shoes, as I must have had my current ones for over a year! (oops) I have ordered a pair of Brookes Lady Addiction shoes from sportsshoes.com. I also aim to build up running distances sloooowly to prepare for the White Peak Half Marathon on May 19th.
I was considering running a 10K in Nottingham Wednesday evening, but think it will put too much pressure on my ankle so am giving that one a miss.
All righty then, as promised... weekly exercise totals...
Running
2.3 miles on treadmill, 25 minutes, top speed 6.3mph
Walking
Approx 6 miles, cross country including sand, slow
Approx 2 1/2 miles brisk, 15 minutes fast walking uphill on sand
Other
20 minutes elliptical trainer
10 minutes bike
5 minutes rower
Approx 50 minutes strength training
Not terribly impressive... but looking good hopefully for the old achilles...
After that I did the usual round of the weights, 20 minutes on the stepper, then used the bike and rower, with absolutely no problems. I can't feel my achilles at all now, so hopefully it is going to just do what the right one did last year, and the symptoms will disappear.
I have ordered a new pair of shoes, as I must have had my current ones for over a year! (oops) I have ordered a pair of Brookes Lady Addiction shoes from sportsshoes.com. I also aim to build up running distances sloooowly to prepare for the White Peak Half Marathon on May 19th.
I was considering running a 10K in Nottingham Wednesday evening, but think it will put too much pressure on my ankle so am giving that one a miss.
All righty then, as promised... weekly exercise totals...
Running
2.3 miles on treadmill, 25 minutes, top speed 6.3mph
Walking
Approx 6 miles, cross country including sand, slow
Approx 2 1/2 miles brisk, 15 minutes fast walking uphill on sand
Other
20 minutes elliptical trainer
10 minutes bike
5 minutes rower
Approx 50 minutes strength training
Not terribly impressive... but looking good hopefully for the old achilles...
Labels: achilles pain, gym, running, walking, White Peak half marathon
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Off To The Seaside...
I am off to Wells-Next-The-Sea in a bit to stay with the folks in the caravan.
My bloody achilles has been very sore, but I have put my running shoes on to give more support and it's made a big difference already. Good excuse to wear trainers to work.
My GP gave me antibiotics today for my chesty cough that just keeps coming back, so if I can just get my heel right...
I may get the chance to run (or jog... or even walk) up a few dunes!
My bloody achilles has been very sore, but I have put my running shoes on to give more support and it's made a big difference already. Good excuse to wear trainers to work.
My GP gave me antibiotics today for my chesty cough that just keeps coming back, so if I can just get my heel right...
I may get the chance to run (or jog... or even walk) up a few dunes!
Labels: achilles pain, Wells-Next-The-Sea
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
***** Achilles Heel Pain!
I don't beleive it!?! My left knee was hurting during the Belvoir Half, and I thought it was going to give me problems...
Well, the knee has been fine, but since yesterday my left Achilles has been really sore! When I move my ankle I can feel it grinding beneath my hand. I don't beleive this, I have had problems with the right heel, but not the left...
It's going to have to get used to much greater distances than that! All I can do I suppose is rest it this week, try cross training and build up my distances gradually when I can run again. I have put an ice pack around it tonight, which seems to have helped a bit. I am going to stay with mum, sis and step dad in the caravan in Wells-Next-The-Sea from tomorrow til Friday, but had been kind of hoping to run up and down the dunes a little... (and no doubt look a total prat)
I'll have to see. There must be nothing more frustrating for a runner than an injury.
I saw a friend yesterday, and she was expressing concerns about the MdS as she has been reading the official website. I acknowledged that it is a very serious undertaking, which will need a heck of a lot of preparation, and then I rather dramatically said "it's not just what's in here that will see me to the finish line"- indicating my limbs- "it's what's in here"- pointing to my head.
"Oh dear" she replied- "You've shot it then!"
Well, the knee has been fine, but since yesterday my left Achilles has been really sore! When I move my ankle I can feel it grinding beneath my hand. I don't beleive this, I have had problems with the right heel, but not the left...
It's going to have to get used to much greater distances than that! All I can do I suppose is rest it this week, try cross training and build up my distances gradually when I can run again. I have put an ice pack around it tonight, which seems to have helped a bit. I am going to stay with mum, sis and step dad in the caravan in Wells-Next-The-Sea from tomorrow til Friday, but had been kind of hoping to run up and down the dunes a little... (and no doubt look a total prat)
I'll have to see. There must be nothing more frustrating for a runner than an injury.
I saw a friend yesterday, and she was expressing concerns about the MdS as she has been reading the official website. I acknowledged that it is a very serious undertaking, which will need a heck of a lot of preparation, and then I rather dramatically said "it's not just what's in here that will see me to the finish line"- indicating my limbs- "it's what's in here"- pointing to my head.
"Oh dear" she replied- "You've shot it then!"
Labels: achilles pain, Marathon des Sables
