I like the guy, I really do, but I was more than happy to hear that I won't have to see him for a month unless something really bad starts happening. I got one more EPAT treatment and a recommendation for a good, reputable... shoe store. Hello, Dr. R! Haven't you listened? I am not that interested in shoes. Actually you know out of the number of recent hikes the one that seemed to bother Mr Achilles the most was a shod hike. Hikes in Five Fingers actually made my feet very, very happy. Dr. R is a runner and Boston Marathoner and his shoes seem to serve him well (or he knows how to treat his feet when they get injured) so I was not about to start another discussion with him. I like the guy and I realize that he thinks barefooting is a passing fad. I tend to think that it is the shoes that are relative newcomers to this world but hey, to each his own. I vote for natural.
So another good news is that I don't have to be so protective of Mr Achilles anymore so :raised heel shoes can go to the back of the closet again; no more boot for the rest periods that was stretching my tendon ever so lightly. But more eccentric exercises to strengthen my calf muscles.
One advice Dr R gave me I will listen to though. I will be increasing my mileage s l o w l y and I will be a good, responsible person, I promise. I am enjoying my runs, even as short as they are, too much to risk another injury. But already in my head I am beginning to wonder if I could run twice a day, say 2X3mi instead of once for 6mi. That would not be pushing it too much, right?
