Running Reflections: Achilles’ Heel
Training has taken a turn for the worse over the past two weeks. My overzealous enthusiasm for running has left me with a text book case of tendinitis in my Achilles tendon, and training has officially halted after reading it is possible to rupture the tendon and/or cause permanent damage. Both not good.
In the story of Achilles, his mother, in an attempt to make her son immortal, dips him in the River Styx holding him by his ankles. Because the river could not touch his feet where she held them, it was where he was most vulnerable. He ultimately died from a poisoned spear to the foot.
This tendon is the largest in the body and can withstand force many times greater than a person’s weight. I’m surprised how easy it is to forget just how integral it is to getting around, and that it is not impervious to damage.
Image courtesy of florathexlplora on Flickr
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August 27th, 2007 at 8:50 am
I feel your pain. I too have given up heavy training after my achilles tendon tear. Actually I gave it up *before* too!
I still have my cam-walker if you want it :)
August 28th, 2007 at 6:17 am
…there’s always SL…just think of the miles and kilometers you could cover!
August 28th, 2007 at 7:37 am
This is true… and I would seriously consider it if SL could keep my a** from getting saggy over the winter. Though, admittedly I’m planning on spending an inordinate amount of time logged into the grid while the temps drop below -20. Maybe we can go running together :)
March 25th, 2008 at 3:38 am
hello flora,
i wonder where this statue is. i like it very much. might be you can tell me where to visit it?
Ciao Pavel.
March 25th, 2008 at 5:17 am
@pavel: You can find this sculpture at Villa Reale in Milano.