Thanks For Joining the Party, Stupid

/ Sarah OUaL

Womp womp.

All good things come to an end – either a temporary hiccup or a big ass road block rerouting your whole freaking plan and smashing your hopes and dreams and…

Ok I’m stopping now before I get way overly dramatic.  It’s not THAT bad, I promise.

My achilles hurts. That’s all.

thanks, wikipedia, for the canvas for another beautiful MSPaint masterpiece

At the track on Tuesday my ankle felt stiff – not sore or painful, just like it needed cracked or something.  It wasn’t bothering me a ton, but as the day went on it got progressively tighter.  By Wednesday, I was hobbling around like a gimp scared that one wrong move would snap the little bitch in half.

I’m not a doctor, but tendons aren’t supposed to feel like dry, unstretchy rubberbands I don’t think.

Yesterday’s disaster tweet after my .1 mile run (and fuming/scared/pissed walk home) sent the FasterBunny into full-blown protective “coach” mode.

I <3 you, Margot, but please don’t scare me with your “concerns”. They make me nervous.

I’m fine – see!  I’m fixing it!  And I’m not freaking out.  Really.  It’s fine.

No really.  Totally not freaking out.

And that whole “no running” part?  Can we get over that?  I’ve got 22 miles to run this weekend, part of which will be at the Hot Chocolate 15k.

I mean, whatever.  It’s just the longest long run of my training plan.  Who needs a healthy hoof for that?  3 hours isn’t that long to be in pain.

Most importantly, SOMEBODY is coming into town that isn’t really going to be cool with eliminating sweaty, heart-pumping, healthy-achilles-required activities from our itinerary…

You heard SweatyEmily, foot.  Figure that shit out.

Who else is running/racing/broken this weekend??  I’m hoping they have an extra special vicodin-spiked hot chocolate ready for me at the finish line Sunday…

Sarah OUaL

I don’t know why I feel compelled to disclaimer this post, but in the essence of being a responsible human/blogger/runner, I’ll tell y’all that I won’t run if I really am that injured.  Pinky promise.  Please don’t call the Disabled List Police on me or send me to Painkiller Anon.  I’m not very smart but I’m not that dumb.

44 thoughts on “Thanks For Joining the Party, Stupid”

  2. Running injuries suck. I have partially torn a tendon under my ankle (I think it might be called the posterior tibial tendon, but whatever it is called, it’s not fun). Thankfully I can tape it up and still run on it, albeit smartly. Hope your achilles comes right very soon!

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  4. I feel ya. I’ve been dealing with chronic Achilles Tendonitis and it’s the pits. The best advice I can offer you is to rest for now and if it doesn’t get better pretty quickly (which I’m sure it will – see optimism!), get medical advice asap. The reason I say that is because what is finally getting me over it is exactly the opposite of what most people will tell you for this injury – ridiculous amounts of stretching, killer massages and foam rolling, flat shoes 100% of the time, and running 2-3 miles 2-3 times a week so it didn’t tighten up. I’m not suggesting you try those things (because they are totally backwards), I’m saying everyone is different so it’s hard to know what will work without someone taking a look at what is really causing the problem (me – I’m weak, inflexible, and apparently run like a drunk).

    But of course this is just all unsolicited advice because you are going to rest, ice, wear compression socks, and Advil it up to be better in a day or two.

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  6. Stupid pain. Sorry about that. I’ll see you at the Hot Chocolate, but even with your pain you will probably be done before I start!!
    I’ll take a spiked Hot Chocolate, too, but maybe with a little bailey’s.

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  7. Achilles are supposed to hurt, they are the weakest link. My L has been too sore to squeeze for about 8 years now. If you run at maxOUaL speed, the aerobic pain will mask the achilles pain. Maybe just sub in racing for training until it gets better?

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  8. haha. I felt like I was being bossypants :)

    You will TOTALLY be ok for sunday I bet, I just think all of this speed all of a sudden is stressing some new muscles. Plus more miles in light shoes. Just don’t do anything fast before then!

    – your accredited doctor.

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  9. I’ve struggled with chronic Achilles tendonitis for 10 years, first from dancing and now from running. Don’t freak out! I find that if I ice a ton, stretch my calves every day and use that awful stick like its my job, its ok most of the time. If it continues, go to the doctor. I’ve been doing some super painful physical therapy for it (like serious business with needles) that has really been helping, and I’ve been able to stick with all of my training for the most part. It will be ok! You’ve been doing amazing with your training and thus is just s tiny set back!

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  10. Ice cup to the achilles…. freeze water in paper cups and then ice ice ice. I had the same thing and ice cupped the hell out of it + a few rest days + lots of stretching (+ vodka and/or beer) and the pain went away. If it still hurts, go to a podiatrist and catch whatever “it” is early.

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  12. Oh crap! I feel your pain. I’m skipping my 20 miler for Eugene this weekend and I can barely stand to be around myself.
    Gin it up while I rest is my new stupid program. Stupid.
    Fingers crossed for ya gurl.

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  13. Blerg! Ice, drink lots of alcohol, tape (KT has immensely helped my tendonitis) and massage the shit out of it! The best thing I’ve done for my ankle is see my podiatrist. Sucks — but it doesn’t have to sideline you! Hope you have a fun weekend anyways :)

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  14. totally with you on that #motherf comment. I developed crazy IT band pain during a half marathon last weekend and have been on rest since then. I’m hoping to run a few miles this weekend but am afraid. Good luck and hang in there!

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  15. Well, I suppose you’ll have to feel it out after the race – I mean, you have plenty of time to do another 20+ miler before Eugene. Maybe just do fewer miles. Or something.

    Speaking of extra miles after the race, where are you doing them? Specifically asking because I’d like to tag along, possibly, for like 6-7 miles. If that’s cool. As long as you are not running at warp speed (i.e. somewhere in the 8:45-9:15 range).

    Oddly, my left achilles is feeling cranky today, too. Not 100% sure why, but I have done a whole lot more miles this week in low-heel shoes (Kinvara and Brooks Cadence) than normal.

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  16. Boo! Stupid achilles. I agree with the “get a sports massage” comment but then I’m also going suggest you add a facial or mani/pedi. I think those cure everything. Get that tendon better!

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  19. I had major achilles pain after a long (stupid) run about 5 weeks ago. It was fine while I was running but then was killing me when I put my running shoes on the next morning. I took one rest day from running. Then, I ran just what my training plan called for but I iced and took ibuprofen for several days. Iced about 4 times a day for 15 minutes per time and definitely iced right after each run. It took a few (4) weeks but now I am pain free again. Of course, I’m no Dr. either. Just hoping what worked for me will work for you!

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  20. I’ve never commented, but enjoy your blog and sense of humor, and awesome ms paint skills:) So I thought I would try to make you feel better by telling you that I also had my longest training run planned for today – 22 miles – and have major shin splints – no good 3 weeks before my marathon. I’m icing and cross training now like crazy, starting to feel better. rest up, hope it feels better for your race!

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  21. Listen to Margot! Hope your ankle is feeling better. I ran the Chesebro Half Marathon today. Not really a PR kind of race since it’s half trail/half roads but it was a challenging course and the trail part was very scenic! Can’t wait to hear how Hot Chocolate SD is…I ran it in DC in early December and it freaking sucked. Hope RAM Racing learned how to better run a race after that giant disaster.

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  24. Sometimes my left ankle feels tight as well. One thing that the lady I go to for massages suggests is to sit with my toes pointed as much as I can. Apparently shoes don’t allow your feet to move a lot and so the AT doesn’t get stretched out as much, so it is beneficial to make a conscious effort to work on that while sitting. I can feel it stetching that area, so.. not great or professional spoken here, but it’s something to keep in mind?

    Good luck!

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  25. Misery loves company right? Left achilles pain here as well. I have not ran FOR EIGHT WEEKS. I am about to commit murder. Today I go in for physical therapy (myofacial something-or-other). I really really hope your injury is super temporary and you are back at it soon.
    However…..if you keep running you will probably pay for it (like I am), unless your injury is minor. Hoping its nothing!! :) :)

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  28. Hey, been reading your blog for a bit; first time commenting, though. I had some quasi-serious achilles issues. Thought I’d have to completely “shut ‘er down” for months (as some people have to do with AT issues). I found that new shoes, eccentric heel lifts, HIP STRENGTHENING (biggie!) compression sleeves, and LOTS of icing helped. I give this unsolicited advice because I was DYING for any sort of advice to help me get over mine. Good news: With some TLC mine never went full-blown and never had to completely shut it down. Also, I a chiro doing some graston technique helped. Worth shelling out the cash for a few sessions, for sure!

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