L Lower Leg, Achilles Tendonitis
2007-02-04 – 2007-02-13
Grade: 4
Left achilles started feeling tight 5k into the COL Loppet, by 15k it was slowing me down, and by 20k I could barely ski on it. The last 8k of the race was painful, no good bail out options. And with the wind chill -25 to -30 F just stopping and standing around wasn't an option. Post race it is sore to move it, sore to touch and I must walk with a limp.
It hurts about mid-way between the calf and the narrow fiberous part of the achilles.
I think I made two stupid mistakes:
1. I did not warm up before the race. I sat inside the chalet until the start, then hammered. The big hill immediately at the start is followed by relentless hills for 20k or so.
2. New ski boots.I switched from Solomon Race Skate 9 to the Solomon RS Carbon. Supposedly it encourages ankle flex; I haven't trained on them jut bought them and raced in them. Violated the golden rule of never trying new equipment on race day.
Now I'm paying big time for these beginner's mistake, and I was a beginner 27 years ago!
Resolution: ice, NSAIDs, 90 degree ortho boot