Ouch!

Uh oh .... just when you think the going's good, injury issues strike again. Had a great 8-mile speed session, on Wednesday evening, hitting good splits and feeling strong. Cue the old achilles problem rearing its ugly head. Aaargh. It's so frustrating.
Out of the three elements of this triathlon, the one that really holds my heart and worries me the least, is running. I've been doing it for years, I can post some respectable times if I train well, and I just love it! On road, off-road, up hills, cross-country, even a wee veteran's track 3k ... you name, I'll do it. The trouble is, my body isn't as keen as me any more and I'm always having to rein back from where I really want to be.
A few year's ago I had to pull out of my Edinburgh Marathon training with this problem. I trained with it to destruction and had to stop. It took months of appointments with just about everybody, to discover that other than surgery, there was no hope! Then, it eventually went away. Gone, but not forgotten. It really is my 'achilles heel' and this time I'm determined to treat it with respect. So I'm literally having to put the run training on ice. It's not too bad at the moment, but I've learned my lesson the hard way in the past, so I'm not taking any chances.
There is an awful lot of run mileage in this training schedule and I'm trying to balance out what my body can do with what I'd like it to do. I envy those runners who can knock out marathon after marathon with seemingly little injury issues, whereas to maintain any semblance of hope I virtually live on ice-packs, foam roller, physio, strength and conditioning exercises and sports massage to get me through. Why - it's so unfair?!!
IronPhil, has been telling me to stop doing the speedwork. He's probably right, speedwork + high mileage = this! Except, I enjoy a bit of speedwork and it really makes a difference to your overall run time. Also, it's probably the only discipline in which I can be reasonably competitive. In fact, if I hadn't been able to complete all my early triathlon's with a good run, I might have quit some time ago. It was a good feeling to reel back all the folk who'd passed me on the bike and swim. They were labouring, even walking, something my runner's pride won't let me do! (IMUK - may well be different).
Anyway, with a wee sprint triathlon coming up at the weekend, I will have a sensible week. If you see me out pounding the streets - stop me and send me home!