Running In Place

Things are going great - but…

My right achilles is really bothering.

But I think it’s kind of ok. So I’m dealing.

Here’s the scoop: On Friday, while doing my 3:1 deal, I had a cramping sensation that seemed to originate at the achilles and radiate around to either side of the ankle - kind of like there was a vice there. It was definately not pain at the stress fracture site, and it was quite annoying but not severe enough to cause me to limp or favor it - so I kept going. It wasn’t constant, the severity was to lesser and greater degrees - and actually was the worst after I was finished running. Stretching my calf did not reduce or increase the pain. I went home, took a Motrin, put some ice on, and took a couple of days off (there was slight residual soreness Saturday AM). The Runner’s Repair Manual spoke of a test for achilles tendonitis in which you pinch along the tendon, starting at the heel and working your way up, feeling for inflammation and point-tenderness. I had neither.

Here’s what I’m wondering - is it those flippin’ bone spurs the doc found on my achilles when he was doing x-rays for the stress fracture that he was sure I didn’t have?? Here’s what I know about bone spurs - ____________________. Guess I should do a little research.

In the meantime - today I ran and it was goooooood I slipped some drugstore gel inserts in my sneaks to give me even more cushioning - they feel cushy for sure and that’s nice at first blush, but I can feel a slight decrease in stability so I will have to reserve judgement. I also wore an ankle wrap which felt good at first but towards the end it didn’t seem to make much of a difference in preventing the discomfort. I did 4 minutes runnning/1 minute walking x 5 reps (planned to do 6, and could have done 6, but I turned around on the trail too soon and ended up in the parking lot after 5 so I said fine). For running more, the achilles pain wasn’t any more severe or at all debilitating - just there - annoying.

The plan - I’m going to keep going for now - not because I’m foolhardy, but because the discomfort is not as acute or severe or raising the alarm bells the stress fracture did. And I’m clearly paranoid enough to stop if it becomes any of those things. When I get back from vacation, if the discomfort is persisting, I’ll go back to the orthoped. If it is the bone spurs, I’ll see what’s the best course of action - I’m not going to fret about it right now.

Tomorrow I’ll go to the gym, Wednesday I’ll run again - maybe 4 min. like today or maybe 5 min. like in my original plan - I’ll see. Then Thursday I’m jet-setting! I plan to post Wednesday evening after my run but may not have an opportunity to check in on RBF so much over the next few days before I leave, but - of course - my good wishes will be with everyone’s training, racing…tapering (you know who you are) .