First week over

The first week of Iron distance training is over and I am left with a very sore hip.

The majority of the week went well. Managed to get a good swim in and a good, if not hot, bike with my roadie friends. Then came my long run yesterday in Indianapolis. It was very hot and I failed to have the fuel available and was left with only water for my 9mile run. That was a mistake on my part and I was left suffering for the last 30mins of the run.

My hip did not hurt at the time, but post run, I began to really feel it. Being a self professed "follower" of the Maffetone method (made famous by Dr Philip Maffetone) I knew full well that this injury had not occurred during the run. In fact, had probably happened earlier in the week, if not before, and had only surfaced during the long run. Just enough fatigue to let me know it had a problem. 

Now, I am faced with a psychological battle. A battle that many endurance athletes face and fail at. The battle not to run or bike and lay off those two disciplines for at least a few days and see if it recovers. The emphasis this week, at least in the beginning will have to be on recovery and strength. Time for a visit to the gym or the hotel room workout. Lots of rolling and some good yoga, should facilitate some good recovery and, hopefully, allow my hip to right itself. The truly hard part comes when the hip begins to feel better, to suppress the temptation to head straight back out the door.

A positive to take away, is knowing that this has happened early enough that it shouldn't have an impact on Challenge Henley in September and as long as I win the battle not to train, I will be ok.

I'm off to a good roll!

Good luck to us all!