Alternative CV training

[friendlyfireaintfriendly]

Ive noticed after a tough weekend outdoors that my achilles have started hurting when running, i have a feeling its some kind of achilles injury but it only seems to hurt when running noticeably so ive called off the running for a bit, first of all is this achilles tendonitis or something else? Secondly as im not feeling any pain when i use a bike is this ok to replace 20-25 minutes of cross country running?

Finally does anyone else have any other good alternatives to CV training? just ive recovered injury to my knee finally but im keen to try and get my training back together without making this achilles pain worse

[ashley]

Swimming.
It can get boring, so try to vary it with a pyramid or something. That is, doing 1 length freestyle, then rest for 30 seconds. Then 2 lengths, and rest again. Work your way up to 8 and back down, it works out as 64 lengths which is a mile in a 25m pool. If, however, you're lucky enough to have a 50m pool nearby, then I'm sure you can do the maths.

[druadan]

Cross training and cycling are also both good alternative CV workouts. Vary straight runs/cycles with interval/fartlek training. I actually improved my running with a couple of months cross training when I had shin splints before I joined.

Achilles problem - are you running in boots or trainers? Only reason I ask is if you tie the ankles of boots too tight you can over stress the achilles and lower shins, causing problems like you describe. So says our PTI anyhow

[friendlyfireaintfriendly]

Im using trainers, i was using boots on the weekend this injury seems to have come from (along with a sprained ankle jumping out of a landy )

[Gazza85]

Can tight trainers do your tendons in aswell? I always do mine really tight, i might start making them slacker.

[druadan]

Not a clue mate, as I said that's just what our PTI told us. I don't think so though, I believe the problem with boots is that it restricts the ankle movement and flex, so tight trainers wouldn't be a problem. Just guessing here mind.

[dalo]

When I want a break from running I like having a beasting on the rowing machine, hardest resistence at a consistent pace for an hour is always a good session. I remember the days when three minutes was a killer.

[friendlyfireaintfriendly]

Tendon pains gone now anyway, finally back into running properly

[JM]

Achilles tendon pains are usually down to tight calfs, and sometimes back problems (thats how they fixed sol cambels injury I think). I went to the physio becuase I had a really bad calf injury, went on for around 6 months, found out I hadnt been stretching the lower half of the calf, just the top; then I told him about some achilles heal pains I'd been having and he said it was down to having the tight calf.

Only reason I ask is if you tie the ankles of boots too tight you can over stress the achilles and lower shins, causing problems like you describe. So says our PTI anyhow

I guess tightening the boots restricts the movement on the calf, they do with my calf's anyhow, hence putting stress on your achilles.