Things you don't want to hear when having a sports massage to the groin:

"Hmm, the muscles are so tight I don't know what else I can do ... unless I use my elbow".

Eek! Yes, Tuesday was my appointment with the sports therapist for the pain in my butt, which has stopped my running for the last 10 days or so. After a very thorough examination, she concluded that as a result of me not rehabilitating my adductors after my earlier groin strain, the other muscles around my hip had started to overcompensate and were pulling on the bottom of the bone in my butt. The solution? Daily stretching and sports massage.

For anyone that hasn't had the pleasure of a sport massage -it is nothing like a regular massage! I regretted making a joke about someone who'd been given a wooden stick to bite down on during a sports massage from a rugby physio, especially when the therapist mentioned using her elbow!

So, no running for yet another week although I am allowed to swim. Unfortunately, I'm still eating the same amount as when I was training so may be carrying a few extra pounds by the time I start running again :-(

Let them eat cake

After two evenings of late night baking, and some minor dramas (muffin tray too big for the oven, a search for buttermilk), the bake sale took place on Friday and was a big success. Despite a lack of advertising outside of our building, we managed to sell almost everything and raised £150! I've been trying to watch what I eat as I've not been running this week so it was nice to have an excuse to eat three pieces of cake without feeling guilty :-)

Tempting fate

Luckily I don't believe in such things otherwise I would be kicking myself for my last post. I did, however, speak too soon. The pain in my butt returned on Monday to the point where I've decided to bite the bullet and see a physio. I managed to find a sports injury clinic attached to a uni (so very cheap) and have made an appointment for next week.

I'm getting a bit concerned now as there's only two months until the marathon and in a month's time I'll have to start reducing my training. Hopefully, the physio will be able to work some magic ...

And the new pain of the week is ...

A massive pain in the butt! After a lovely sunny 13 mile run along the Thames on Saturday, I developed a pain in the butt, just in time for my date that evening. Coupled with a tight calf muscle on the opposite side, I was left wadlling along in a duck-like fashion. Not quite the look I was going for!

Luckily, after a painful day on Sunday (where every muscle from the waist down hurt!) I'm almost back to normal. At least, as normal as I've been since starting marathon training :-)

Spinning last Thursday was loads of fun (maybe not for Dr G though!) and I can't wait to go back this week for some more manic pedalling to the sounds of cheesy garage. We've pencilled it in for the day of the bake sale so we'll be able to justify eating lots of cakes in the day :-0

Back in the running!

As of last Saturday, I am now running again. Yay! Saturday's run was short, slow and a little painful but on Monday I managed a very respectable 8 miles at the GSTT charity training night with only a slight ache! What a relief to be able to run again :-)

Tonight, I'm off to my first ever spinning class with Dr G. Quite looking forward to it although I'm expecting to be aching tomorrow!

Karaoke!

The charity karaoke night took place tonight and appeared to be a big success! We were graced with several guest appearances from our very own Su Bo - what more could you want?! Dr G and I were brave and made our karaoke debut - I think not being able to hear ourselves over the music and sound of everyone else singing along was a big help :-)

I may have engaged in some over-enthusiastic dancing, which didn't help my groin strain! Well worth it though. I'm hoping to go bigger and better for the next karaoke night - hopefully somewhere where we can sing the night away rather than being limited to 2 hours.

Groin strain? But I'm a laydeee!

Well, I might not be the most ladylike woman but getting a groin strain was completely unexpected. Like many people, I associated groin strains with rugby players or footballers - or other big-thighed sportmen! (Admittedly, my thighs might be on the large side but that's more fat than muscle :-( ). After an incident on the bus last week, I discovered it's not socially acceptable to tell a complete stranger that you have a groin strain(!) so I'm trying to keep my hobbling as discreet as possible.

Am rather disgruntled as was told by my GP today not to run or exercise for 2 weeks, not even swimming! I'll have to start watching what I eat otherwise I'll put on half a stone as well as losing all my fitness.