The agony of injury

It was the toughest week of Hal Higdon's Advanced Post-Marathon training schedule, and I was killing it.  I was even doing extra.

When the plan called for a 90-minute run at an easy pace, I did 14 miles at a comfortable, but certainly not leisurely, 7:27 pace (for a total of 1:44:45).

When the plan called for eight 400-meter intervals at 5K pace, I did nine, averaging four seconds faster than 5K pace for each.

When the plan called for three miles at 5K pace, I ran them, but couched as miles two, four and six in a seven-mile run.

When the plan called for a 40-minute tempo run, I did 45.

And when Sunday rolled around, my left Achilles tendon was telling me to shut it down. 

I did not listen, of course. 

Instead, I ran another 14-miler.  But this time, the pain slowed me to a jog by the halfway point, and a limping shuffle by mile 10, resulting in a time of 2:03:21 (an 8:48 pace).

But the agony of the injury is not in the pain itself. It is in the psychological tricks it plays. I started to wonder if I had done permanent damage (worst case scenario) or if I would be better in time for the 5K I was planning to run on April 7 (best case scenario) and everything in between.

So all this past week, I played it cool, resting Monday, and doing simple five-milers for the next three days - icing the tendon whenever possible.

The five slow miles on Tuesday (8+ pace) gave way to a better effort on Wednesday (7+ pace) and a return to form on Thursday (6+ pace). I can not say I am completely better, but after doing a 40 minute tempo run yesterday and a 14-mile run today, I would say that the theory of "active recovery" is being nicely put into practice.  But the agony of the injury continues to nag at my brain.

Seven days until prospective race day.