Monday 19 December 2011

When things go wrong, adapt the plan

I've been having niggling pains in my leg and knee for about a month but nothing really painful, until yesterdays cross country run.  That last mile hurt my knee so I thought this mornings swim would easy my legs off.  It did until I tried to climb the stairs and there was that pain again.  One call to the physio and I was booked in for the afternoon followed by my weekly meeting with my coach.
The outcome is that I won't be running for a few weeks, will be icing my knee 3 times a day, taking anti- inflammatory tablets, doing plenty of stretching and specific strengthening exercises and taking it easy on the turbo trainer.  Had I not gone to the physio when I did I could have done more damage which would have had a longer recovery period.
So with my coach we rescheduled my training for the rest of the month - it doesn't mean I'll be taking it easy, I'll just be adapting my exercise to protect the injury.  So when things go wrong you have to adapt.  Ultimately the weakness was in the "foundation" and that always comes through when put under pressure whether it be your body or a business. I suppose if there is a time to cut back running it's when the streets are covered in snow and ice so I'm lucky on that score.