I know!
Appreciate that it's Age-group (55-59), and maybe duathlon isn't as competitive as triathlon but I'm unbelievably pleased - on the verge of tears, even, if that doesn't sound too melodramatic!
Achilles problem is partly my fault - after last years trials and tribulations I didn't really keep up my strength work and now the physio has laid it out - "for the rest of your active life, you'll be doing calf exercise 3-4 times per week". So that's fine, and after a couple of weeks of warm baths, ice baths, friction massage and calf exercises (especially the eccentric ones) today I was able to jog down to the gym, and hopefully tomorrow will do a bit more. Definitely feel that vffs are a valuable tool to avoid future injury, btw.