Road to recovery

It's been an interesting week.  The good news is that I improved on my pool swim times from the previous week.  It just goes to prove that if you get in the pool and work hard you will get better/faster/fitter.  I came out of the pool knowing I was faster and feeling less tired.  I was so happy.
I was also happy having had the all clear on my neck from my chiropractor Gill Dingwall but she has recommended after my 10k swim I pay her another visit.  She suggested I may have a bit of tension in my neck & shoulders!
Then I went to see the physio (we can rebuild him!).  John is so laid back but I could see he was concerned that there was still swelling after 14 weeks.  He conducted a strength test on my hamstring - there wasn't any.  Weak as a new born lamb.  This is going to take time.  His view on what I should do differs from my consultant.  John would like me to keep the hamstring active with some cycling and running so I'm going to split the difference and start turbo training.  This should keep it active while not straining it.
I will also be doing some resistance exercises to help regain the strength in the hamstring.
On Friday night I had a good swim at Loch Lomond and was pleased with comments from other swimmers that I was swimming strong - thanks guys.  Only 34 days to go and I've booked a 5k race the weekend before just to have a "dry run" of a punch up with a load of others dressed in rubber.
However on Saturday I played golf and by the 15th hole was limping.  Who'd have thought golf was so physical on my hamstring?  It's really not feeling great so it's just as well I've pulled out of the 50 mile relay race next weekend.  team ATHelite will do great and I'll play a supporting role but not running.
The chances of me running the Ocean Floor Race (www.oceanfloorrace.com) in March 2015 are now almost nil but I am going to give it till the end of September before I make my final decision.  In the meantime I am going to shift the half a stone of "cruise excess" off my middle which I am very unhappy about.  But without more regular strenuous exercise it isn't easy.  But I like a challenge!