So....I recently injured my Achilles tendon.  The pain was initiall horrible all the time, even when just walking, but now it has gotten to where it only hurts in the mornings (badly-especially the first few steps), and sometimes late at night after being at work as a nurse running around chasing geriatric patients.  I have accepted for the next few weeks (hopefully not longer) instead of doing my normal morning shorter warmup run, I must spin fast on our spin bike inside.  Its quite a good sweat, and I feel that i am keeping my speed, there is no pain, but its NOTHING like being outside running or even on the bike.  Running outside in the summer in the morning is awesome.  I love it when its so hot outside that the mornings are even humid and burning up.  You can have the best runs during this time.  It was during this special time of day that my husband and I used to do our long runs together the first summer we met.....was some of the most cherished memories and when I fell in love with him. I am so thankful for this time back then, and hope that it can return soon now that he is starting night shift soon and with my tendon healing at least on the weekends and the days that he is off.  I will continue to spin in the mornings until then which will happen after our tri[ to the USVI in which I hope we can run our Hanson Brooks run every morning on the beach, near the water etc....sooooo ready for this injury to heal and be on the beach regardless!  Anyways, I have kept doing my outdoor mileage near midday for my HB training and keeping up with it bc icing my foot for about 20 mins prior to run, then doing a series of intense stretched to my achilles tendon, using an electronic massager, and wearing a convenient comfortable lightweight brace we found on Running Warehouse.  My runs feel good usually until about 30 mins and then I feel some pain, but as of yesterday I ran in a new trainer/racer- Saucony Kinvara 2.  David got them for me because they have more stability and cushioning than the minimal shoes I have become accustomed to training in.  After using them yesterday for midday and this morning just light jogging with my puppy Cade, I can tell a HUGE difference.  We have an 8K-the sunrise run on Saturday......I hope icing, stretching, the "rest" Ive tried to deal with on the spin bike, and stretches etc will allow me to run at the speed and efficiency I am dying to bust out again.......until later...gotta run! Special thanks to my love for the great shoes! :)

~ARG