Denouement

the scraping won't hurt it, that would be running a half marathon at a 6:40 pace. But it might not help it either.

The problem with having one body is that we can't really know what makes it ache, whether its the race or the scraping (it ached before the race too--it was dull before and it is still dull, dull yet persistent!). I have stopped wearing heels to work to try to rest the tendon, I have read that wearing heels can hurt tendons. Do you recommend a website or book regarding scraping? I just haven't seen it referenced except at a homeopathic website or two.

Michelle, I had an episode with dull aching achilles about 2 years ago, and it cost me only 2 weeks! I owe it to my coach who forced me to stop running immediately. Besides this, I did IB 4 pills 4 times a day, and ice. Once I started running again, I heated it before running (and iced after). I also did eccentric exercises - lowering of the heel while standing on a step on one leg, it seemed to help. After 2 weeks of complete rest I was good to go, and didn't lose any fitness. Please be careful running on a dull aching achilles!

Michelle if you google graston, gua sha, or aystm there is quite a bit of info on scraping. http://www.grastontechnique.com/ this is one I found. http://www.youcanbefit.com/graston.html

When I had this tendonitis in my calf it would hurt worse after having it done and it took several treatments to get it better.

Maria - two weeks off???? Hmmm. From what I have read online I can reduce my training and do the treatments you suggest and still get over it. It's hard to stop.

Josse - thanks, I didn't know these terms. I will do some more research.

I do not know why women put themselves through the torture of wearing heeled shoes anywhere. It makes them look worse, and being so unnatural you are just asking for an injury.

Michelle - good idea doing the walking before and after; it will do a lot to help your muscles warm up.

As for Maria's experiences, I think that had I stopped running right away rather than tried to run through it I would have had significantly less layoff. I'd suggest stopping your miles - It's really hard, but I wouldn't want you to have to go through the multiple MONTHS layoff like I experienced!!

Remember your body is a biological machine. You need to read its signs and react accordingly. Pain usually is the body's warning sign before a major setback. Take a couple weeks off while you finish tax season and use that time to get more sleep!!!

Praying for your quick recovery!!

So I was thinking about you last night, and it acurred to me that you lack of sleep is probably the main culprit to you injury. That is when the body repairs. Plus you have been sick alot so all you extra reserves have gone to that. I don't know if I would recommend time off or not that is just up to you and how it feels when you run. But I would recommend more sleep!

same here Josse.

When I was driving home from night classes the main "warning signs" that I think your body is giving you Michelle that a major setback is in order unless you cut back:

I. Poor lack of sleep in the last two months, which when combined with high intensity mileage contributed to:

II. Sickness - sore throat and stuffy nose while sure just a typical winter flu is also sign that your body's immune system is on the defensive.

III. first signs of pain in the achilles. Everything that I've read in the last three months says that the second you feel pain in the achilles, you stop and walk the rest of the way. >> I know that personally this was my biggest mistake. I figured that by taking a couple days off things would be back to normal, when they weren't; And then when the pain was still there I figured I was just a little sore, and that I could continue running by dropping the intensity. This was my HUGE mistake and probably what cost me months instead of weeks

Try running about 8 miles a day at 9:00 pace. Nothing faster than that. Speed limit enforced! This is what I would call aerobic sleep. Your aerobic fitness is being maintained, yet your nervous system relaxes almost as well as if you were sleeping. So your body may be able to continue to repair itself even though you are running.

Hi, Michelle!! Josse suggested that I check in with you to see if you are interested in running the Wasatch Back Relay with my team. I am putting together an all-female competitive team this year (we would LOVE to win!). Paul Peterson also recommended that I contact you to see if you’re interested in our all-girl team.

If you're interested, you can reach me the following ways:

1. my blog spot (andrea.fastrunningblog.com)

2. cell phone: 801-633-5059

3. email: andrearmartinez@yahoo.com

I’ve already registered our team and thus far, we have 6 good female runners committed to the team. Now, we just need to find 6 more (Josse is entertaining the idea). We have a reputable coach, Bill Schmid, who is thrilled to be working with so much talent on our team. We hope you can join us -- and most importantly, I hope your achilles gets feeling better soon!!! :o)