Touching a Nerve!

Have I told you that I'm injured?!  I don't think there's anyone left in the world that doesn't know!  Sorry.  Apologies.  For my moody behaviour and my tears and tantrums.  I'm just so sore and frustrated.  And desperate to get out training!

My pain - from the bottom of my back to my knee, now spreading to my foot - ouch!

I've been lucky to have very supportive family, friends and physios/sports physios that have been amazing.  But along with Dr Google and my own imagination I've thought on all sorts of diagnosis of my problems - strains, tendinitis, hamstring pulls, stress fractures, all sorts of syndromes and now sciataca.  From attending the physio today they confirmed it is sciataca.  Unfortunately at the moment I don't know what the root cause of the sciataca is - most probably an inflamed muscle of some sort (piriformis? hamstring? who knows?) but for the time being I've to rest.  Argh!  Sitting and resting seems to make it painful too so that doesn't help!  I don't do rest easy as you probably well know.  I've done a lot of cycling and swimming over the last few months which I don't think aggravated the symptoms but now, just in case, I've to take complete rest to try and let it settle.  Fingers crossed.  The good news is that sciataca can sometimes clear within a few months of it's own accord and you can train through it.  But for now, I have to rest.

Some of the beautiful cliffs and trails that Stuart had some great runs on

Last week I did some resting and a little bit of training abroad in the Algarve.  And it was fantastic!!  I would recommend it to anyone and would love to return with a big squad of us.  I was hoping for a full on week of training but with my pain in the butt, I had to cut it back but it was still very enjoyable.  Especially with icecream and cocktails in the afternoon sunshine - surely that's what all the athletes do? 

Brick session with Swift Momentum Sports (ex pro GB cyclist Tomas Metcalf Swift) led me for a morning's OW swim and 30m cycle inc drills and technique.  Thoroughly recommend.  I deserved that pina colada.....

Beautiful Carveiro during a wee morning cycle

Cycling in Portimao on my own

Stuart watches on as I do an open water swim at the beach

I thought training for this Ironman triathlon (Arranman) would test me.  But not like this.  I've been desperate to get out there and pound the pavements, to cycle for hours and to swim but I've had to cut it right back.  I'm missing my friends at the running club and missing the endorphins and sense of achievement that I get from a good, hard session.  Along with my training partner in crime, Jen, we've been essentially training for this for a LONG time - years maybe.  Building up a base of steady miles in all 3 disciplines as well as cross training, strength, yoga and core work.  To throw in the towel now would be quite devastating.  More so because I never want to do this again AND knowing me, I won't let this ironman distance go.  But seriously I'm going to need to make a decision soon whether I will be able to take part in it or not.  Let's see how the next few weeks go.

Cocktails at the hotel - bliss!

A wee algarve coffee (espresso, almond biscotti and almond liqueur) to finish off a lovely holiday