Waiting on the Achilles

So, ran Friday (4 miles) and last week total was about 15 or 16 (including skyline trail run). Really want to get up to doing 25-30 miles a week (I'm not one of those 80 mile a week guys). But, the achilles is still not right. Been taking ibuprofen semi-regularly, and trying to do some more stretches for the calf, achilles, and hamstring specifically (looking for some good exercises). I could do a light run in my ASICS (not the NB Minimus again yet) but am afraid it will linger. This week (unless it feels totally better) I will just stretch, maybe bike ride if I can squeeze it in, and let it rest. Hope to be back running by next week, really hoping.....

Run and Pizza

3 .75 mile Charles River loop. A few Phartleks thrown in for good measure, not real fast. Still trying to let achilles heal heal (ha) and at the same time get in a few miles. Stopped at Otto's in Harvard square on way back for a 3$ slice of Otto's pizza. Why? Not sure, but cheap and on way.
This morning saw a hummingbird on our back deck sipping our Fusia plant as I was having my quiet time. Didn't even know there were hummingbirds in these parts!

Achilles!

I've now run about 12 times in my Minimus Trail shoes. Definitely had a big blister on my right Achilles, but that is getting better with time. Used them in Utah on family vacation (6 mile trail runs) and ran about three times on the road (in Cambridge). Other than the normal "getting used to" phase, the transition from my Asics Gel Kahana's (which I have since started to intersperse a bit more) to the NB minimus wasn't that difficult. That is until I did the 12k Blue Hills Skyline Trail race Sunday (4 days ago). Actually, during the race, I absolutely loved them. Felt good going up and down, good feel for the ground, no pain through the sole. Great. But, soon after the race had really sore hamstrings (particularly left) and sore right Achilles. I always have had really tight hamstrings and I think that soreness was just from the nature of the course (really rocky). I have never yet though had an Achilles issue, so this is new and I think a cause of the transition and the pretty hard beating I put on the tendon during the race (probably needed another week or so of running to get to the point were I was ready). Anyways, went for a 4 mile run yesterday, and the achilles was sore but not bad (much better than Sunday and Monday). So, ibuprofen, calf and hamstring stretches for me. I am taking today off, and will test it out again tomorrow in the Asics to continue the slow transition. Really loving trail running, and I'm just a newbie with lots of room for improvement!

Charles River Run

7/13 - 4 mile loop on Charles River. Big rain and winded started about 1 .5 in. Beautiful!

Blue Hills Skyline Trail Race

Awesome run on Sunday in the Blue Hills. Normally a 12k, due to trail changes to the Skyline trail the course was extended about .2 miles. 7.4 total? 103 entrants. Beautiful day. Finished in 1:28:52. Felt great, but hamstrings really sore 2 days later. Longest run yet in the NB Minimus Trail. I think I like them a lot (as long as my achilles is just exhibiting normal soreness).