Slowly improving

I think I might be on the mend.

This is the longest I've gone without running since, oh, 1993; maybe even earlier.  Cycling has kept me sane, but it's a long haul.

I didn't help myself at all for the first 3 months or do by doing my Achilles-related exercises very diligently... but instead of gentle up-and-down motions I was bouncing on my heels.  What an idiot. Remembering the advice of the physio that 'discomfort is OK but pain is not', I kept persevering. I did some gentle running too, culminating in doing the monthly handicap event at work (5.6k) and really going into decline afterwards.

Sue came to the rescue by spotting my self-injurious exercises, readjusting my wonky hip and finding a remedial exercise regime which gave very literal, precise and specific instructions.

This is what I've been doing since late August, and so far so good.  The trouble is that I'm very nervous about running.  I keep thinking 'another couple of weeks and it will have mended a bit more'.  Anyway, on Thursday I went out for a very slow 2k run.  No discomfort during or after; I was very aware of my left ankle and I could feel something slightly untoward there, but I also know that my nerve endings have been sensitised, so this is normal.

So I'm now cautiously, gradually going to re-start running.  I can't wait, and yet I'm terrified about botching my recovery.  It's way too soon to be planning my first race... for now I'll be very pleased if I can slowly build on this through the rest of the year.