Off the IC again!

[annatonina]

Definitely been a long time since I posted on here! I graduated back in May and was doing Parkrun semi-regularly and running 4-5k 3x week, got to my goal weight, felt amazing and learned a lot about my body.

About 8 weeks ago I tripped over my own doorstep and took all the skin off my knee (a new level of clumsy even for me) and had to take a couple of weeks away from running for that to heal; we then went on holiday to Europe where I developed achilles tendinopathy from trying to walk 25k around Brussels in terrible shoes. When we got back I tried to run but didn't get very far worrying about my achilles - I ruptured it once in primary school and I have no desire to do that again!

So it's been 8 or 9 weeks since my last run, my eating habits have gone down the toilet and I've put almost half the weight I lost back on again! But perhaps most surprising is that I've actually been itching to get back out for a run and increasingly frustrated while doing the usual cycle of exercises for the achilles. Before we went on holiday I'd just made the decision that I was going to start Juju's magic plan to work my way up to 10k in time for my local 10k race next year.

My ankle has stopped making that horrible squeaking sound when I use it now so I think I'm going to go out tonight and try week 1 of C25k, a very gentle ease back in to running in the freezing cold and see how it goes.

Does anyone else have experience of returning to running after achilles tendinopathy who could give some advice beyond being careful not to push it?

[Wenderwoo Graduate]

I’m currently on the IC with the same problem, so I’m very interested in the response you get. Good luck with the run tonight, I hope it goes well 😁

[Fleakie Graduate]

Yes.... I got up to week 6 in June then had to stop .... I could barely walk for about 6 weeks. Finally, I went to a sports Physio who gave me a really deep calf massage. Almost immediately my Achilles began to improve. When it was completely better I resumed the programme .... right back at week one .....have had no further problems and am now up to week 7. I’m being careful with lots of stretching and post workout massages on the gym vibroplate.

[Granspeed Graduate]

Not my Achilles, but I’ve done the “return from injury” round & I would say choose good footing routes. My set backs were to do with landing awkwardly. Good luck. 😊

[shrinkingjaz Graduate]

I can't comment on the Achilles, but please look after yourself! The last thing you want is further injury!

[annatonina Graduate]

Thank you all for the responses - I did go for the run, felt fine at the time but today it's quite painful again so maybe not quite ready to get back into it yet! I've self-referred for physio just in case it doesn't get better on its own and I'll go back to extension exercises for now. So frustrating!