Niggles

One thing that is a constant amongst Triathlon Forums (or is that Fora? I just checked on http://www.dictionary.com/ and it can be either) is the number of endurance athletes carrying injuries or niggles. I think you just accept them as part and parcel of the hobby. I have several niggles right now. I have taken advice on all of these on various occasions, some more professional than others, in each case, these niggles are effectively symptoms or by-products of other problems:

• Tight hamstring on right leg

A lingering from a rugby injury to my knee. I left it so long that I have muscle wastage in my Quad and Glut (backside) and it puts stress on the hamstring. I had neglected the recovery exercises for a while and it shows, so I need to get back in the Gym and do some bum work!

• Patella Tendonitis on the right leg

This is related to running with a tight hamstring. Who’d have thunk it. This originally appeared after a long run in Sydney 18 months ago straight of the flight, apparently this is inadvisable as your muscles are all tight.

• Numb Toes when running

I am still not sure on this. I think this is due to my running shoes no longer suiting my evolved running gait. I have a feeling that it will require new shoes.

• Shoulder Impingement

From an old cricket injury to my Rotator Cuff which is slowly getting better. My physio has prescribed a series of shoulder exercises that are helping a lot and have enabled me to get back swimming with no problems.

I wager that this a standard length of injury list for an endurance athlete. I think the key is to not let them get you down or you will be forever worried about one injury or another. My shoulder injury stopped me from swimming for around 6 months in the run up to last season which had a significant impact on not only my Triathlon swim times but also it meant I was tired coming out of the swim which impacted my Bike and Run times as well. Not so this year as I have already exceeded the total number of last season’s swim sessions – and I even quite like it. I still cannot get up at 6am to swim but I am getting there slowly.

Training Done: Bike: Spinning; Rugby Match (does that count? – need to check), Run: 60’ Easy run (Long Slow Distance); Swim drills; Bike: Tempo 20’; Run 40’ LSD; Bike: 60’ LSD; Swim drills.