Do I keep running or stop the programme until pain eases?
Just started week 4 and have sore Achilles ten... - Couch to 5K
Just started week 4 and have sore Achilles tendon.
Take time to recover - there’s a pinned post on injuries - you won’t lose any fitness but running on it could make it worse. While you’re resting take a look at the Japanese slow jogging technique, there’s a short film on youtube, it’s low impact and designed for injury free running. You may be hitting your heel hard on landing, and you should be landing on your mid foot rather than heel. If you have a proper independent running shop near you, get your gait analysed - this will also give you info on what stresses your body is under when running. Hope you’re better soon.
Welcome to the forum and well done on getting started.
This guide to the plan is essential reading healthunlocked.com/couchto5... and includes a link to the NHS Sports injuries page.
Rest up and when you restart, when pain free, follow the advice about minimising the impact.
Enjoy your journey.
In my experience, Achilles pain does not get better simply from resting it. Stop running completely, and get to see a sports physiotherapist. For the price of a new pair of trainers (£60) you can have a one-hour session that will give you the necessary exercises to rehabilitate your achilles, plus find out what caused the issue in the first place. It will come down to biomechanics and the physio can correct that, too. It will save you months of resting, test-driving, pain and getting back to square one.