On Friday I went to Rockcliffe Hall and joined the spa. It is truly one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. Graeme came with me and spent the morning there as one of my guests. Unfortunately, it isn't like Seaham Hall where you get 5 passes for friends each year... this place you get 3 passes at a discounted price of £35 per person. This does not surprise me as it really is the sort of place that is a cut above the rest. We spent the first part of the morning in the gym where I had my induction with Peter, a very knowledgable man who is a physiotherapist and comes from a boxing background. He showed me how to position the seat on the bike and I did 30 minutes painfree with my previously dodgey knee. William had sent me a link on how to put the seat, and Peter gave the exact same instructions so I was confident all would be well.
Peter also showed me some equipment they have called Kenesis. Apparently they are the only ones in the North East with a full set, which he attributed to the fact it was very costly. He advised I should tell William and Shaun about it as it would help me hugely as a runner. He demonstrated an exercise for the gluteus medius (which he said is notoriously weak in runners)... you'd think he knew my faults already!
After the gym we got ready to go into the spa. I was given my own gym key, spa locker card and membership card (credit card style all printed out posh and everything!!!) and a very nice spa-gym holdall. The changing room was very posh indeed, with lockers that actually work... SEAHAM HALL TAKE NOTE! I particularly like the size of them with 2 compartments and a long side compartment for hanging clothes. This will come in handy for when I'm going before work. There were loads of hair dryers too, which will also come in handy if I'm training prior to going to work.
The remainder of the morning in the spa was gorgeous. Graeme said he was genuinely gutted he wasn't able to join because he really liked it. Unfortunately though, he works so far away he would never get the chance to go there. When we went for Graemes' bithday last year, I was gutted it was too far away for us to become members, but now with my branch only 4 miles away it is perfect for me.
After the day out, I got home and after around 6 hours from doing the bike exercise my knee started to really hurt. I was gutted. So, it isn't the seat position after all! On Saturday morning I got up and although it wasn't anywhere near as bad, I could still feel my knee had a slight ache. I went out for my run, planning on a 5 minute run 4 minute walk (slowly getting the walking breaks down), and the first 2 minutes really felt like it was hard work. Before long though I got into my stride (so much so I forgot to look at my Garmin until I'd reached 5 minutes and 38 seconds so I just carried on until 6 minutes). On my walk break I was soooo cold that after 2 minutes I thought, Sod it! and carried on running. So, I was very naughty but it went well and I really wanted to run further.
This morning I got up, had breakfast and went up and did my deadlifts (very light and only 3 sets of 15 to make sure I don't jump up too quickly) and I did my upper body workout too. I feel fab! It actually feels like I'm getting somehwere finally. I've been a little frustrated at having to go so slowly, but I know everyone is just looking out for me and desperately trying to stop me from getting reinjured. My foot does feel good though, but my knee is still a little achey. I think bike intervals for me are a no no, however, there are plenty other things I can do. For instance, I'm really looking forward to doing my step exercises again (hopefully wearing chain mail for difficulty in the not too distant future) and I can do some boxing with Graeme, which, surprisingly, I quite like!
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