I have had a little achilles problem since about September of last year. Nothing too bad, but if my training got too heavy, I would start to feel it. So, I decided to take a couple of easy weeks and really make sure I didn't train if it was bugging me at all. I pushed off the pool with the "good" leg, wore my foot boot around the house (using my "good" leg to get around), and even switched to my more substantial running shoes (I run in racing flats). Rested as I was, my other leg started giving me fits on one of my easy runs!! Everything around my achilles started tightening up! This was about three weeks ago, and for about a week, I thought I might have really damaged my "good" achilles. Yes, my bad achilles was now fine, and my good one was now not so good.
God sometimes has a funny way of getting my attention. I have always said there are two injuries I really hate: stress fractures (which I thankfully no longer get) and achilles tendonitis (which I had a bad case of in college). So, when I feel irritation in both my achilles tendons, you can bet I am one frustrated athlete! I say God got my attention, because my situation is a reminder of how anything and everything can be taken in an instant, and truly, the only thing that will last forever is God.
The frustration I have felt over the thought of all the hard work I've put in feeling wasted if my season is over makes me realize how much of my identity revolves around me as an athlete. I became cranky, irritable, and just down right miserable to be around. I get like this when I'm injured. After a few days on my pity-pot, I started playing songs like "I Will Praise You in This Storm" to help get me out of the funk I was in. This injury has been a wake-up call for my spiritual life... which I often need. Many of my friends here in the Woodlands know me through triathlon, and it is a large part of who I am. This trial has been a reminder that it's definitely not all there is to me.
Two weeks ago (a week after the 'new' inury and swimming only), I started doing better. The body does heal, if you let it! I have been able to get back to training the last two weeks, although at reduced mileage both running and cycling. Three weeks ago I had canceled my registration for the Miami Triathlon this weekend, but the race director never got the email, so I am still registered. So, what the heck... I'm going to go race anyhow. I have had a lot of good base training this winter, and the last 4 weeks have kinda been "maintenance" training. I'm just happy to be back to training and not have my achilles hurting like it was. I'm going to race with all I've got. I'm still not out of the woods yet, but definitely on the mend.
Oh yeah... my ankle/calf/achilles got infinitely better after getting some Active Release Technique by Dr. Sam Faysal. He's excellent! Each time I go, I get a little better. He's a triathlete himself and practices in Conroe. Dr. Faysal's website is http://www.dynamichealthwellness.com/, and his phone number is 936-756-1651. Try him out!
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