Achilles issues & running surface - any thoughts?
1 lurker |
4 watchers
Jan 2022
11:49am, 13 Jan 2022
8,930 posts
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GordonG
Just wondering if anyone has had a similar experience to mine, or if anyone has any thoughts about what happened to me. Brief background: 56 years old, average fitness at best, typical middle-of-the-packer. Developed achilles problems soon after first lockdown, initially in my left but now also in my right. Pain always feels like my body is telling me to rest a while and it will get better – have had 2 x periods of not running, but pain no better or worse. It's at its worst first thing in the morning, when I hobble around for the first 30 minutes of the day. I can run a couple of times a week and have leant to live with it through stretching, exercise etc I usually only run on the road. Last weekend a mate invited me along to a (mainly) off-road group run of 10 miles. The route was seriously hilly and took 2.5 hours when 2 hours is typical for that route, due to the incredible amount of mud slowing us down. But here’s the thing: for the next two days neither of my achilles hurt at all. Nothing. Nada. Straight out of bed without issues. It was like a miracle cure! I can’t believe it was a coincidence, so what was going on? I can’t find anything online that particularly says “run on mud and your achilles will be fine”. Anyone got similar experience with achilles problems & running surfaces, or any thoughts on why this might have made a difference? Ta |
Jan 2022
12:32pm, 13 Jan 2022
3,076 posts
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flyingfinn
I don't really have much personal experience of achilles problems, it's thankfully not something I've suffered from, but my initial thoughts on reading your tale would be simply summed up by the words 'running style'. Running slower and on surfaces such as mud normally tends to result in you running with a much shorter stride and landing with your foot much flatter. Do you tend to run on your toes on the road, trying to create a flowing a forefoot running style? That is often a cause of achilles tendonitis. Ironically trying to run fast with a forefoot style on soft surfaces like sand and mud often makes achilles problems worse. |
Jan 2022
12:35pm, 13 Jan 2022
53,625 posts
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DrPhleecingD
Why don't you just switch to running on softer surfaces? Also, might shoes be a factor here too? The only time I've really had Achilles issues is after wearing a certain pair of trail shoes (ironically for super muddy surfaces) I've had a few niggles lately and have been wondering if it's doing more road running than my normal mostly off-road stuff, but not sure |
Jan 2022
12:38pm, 13 Jan 2022
75,542 posts
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Gobi
Less impact caused by slow pace would be my guess. I live with an achillies/ankle issue and trail road or track will set it off. Sometimes your the hammer and sometimes you are the nail. Don't suddenly turn into a crazed trail only runner, it will still flair up and without the road work it will never adjust for speed so will of course return as soon as you road run. |
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Jan 2022
12:39pm, 13 Jan 2022
75,543 posts
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Gobi
fleecy - that wasn't a post to contradict you we really were typing ay the same time
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Jan 2022
12:40pm, 13 Jan 2022
75,544 posts
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Gobi
Ps. Shoes are a very valid point
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Jan 2022
1:09pm, 13 Jan 2022
8,931 posts
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GordonG
thanks all for your thoughts. FF, no if anything i'm more towards being a heal striker Phleecy, yes I am actually planning more off-roading but wouldn't want to give up road running Gobi, good points thanks. will try to keep a balance. i guess one thing i didn't make clear in my original post is that i could understand it if my achilles issues had been the same after off-road running, but the fact that the pain went away completely for 48+ hours was the bit that confused me, especially having previously had two periods of not running at all (for a couple of months at a time each) that made zero difference. thanks again. |
Jan 2022
1:27pm, 13 Jan 2022
40,920 posts
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HappyG(rrr)
Funny GordonG, I just posted something, where off road running was a recommendation re. Achilles, to Sushi... fetcheveryone.com/forum/junior-v-adult-running-shoes-62191/ Glad it's improving for you.  G
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Jan 2022
1:54pm, 13 Jan 2022
53,626 posts
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DrPhleecingD
I know nothing about running mechanics whatsoever! I do love off-road running generally though. Mixing it up seems a good call, as does keeping track of shoes. It's great news that running helps more than rest though
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Jan 2022
2:17pm, 13 Jan 2022
8,933 posts
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GordonG
thanks for the link HG
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