Recovery and DOMS

As I mentioned on an earlier blog, I didn't train on Sunday due to still feeling ill from self inflicted wine drinking. One thing I still noticed though was that I wasn't aching even one tiny bit. That's not like me! Normally a break from running for even a month would have me aching like hell after an 8 mile run.... whether I'd walked some of it or not!

So, Monday came, and as I was avoiding running until I could get to see the physio, I went to the spa and took it upon myself to choose 3 disciplines that I absolutely detest. I detest them not only because they are hard, but because I am absolutely terrible at them. I started with the rowing machine. So far in my life, I have managed a total of 5 minutes in one go on a rowing machine before having to bail... and if I'm honest, it's probably closer to 4 minutes and I've 'rounded' it up to 5!!! My plan was 15 minutes, and to my sheer delight, that's exactly what I did. I only had it on level 3, but even that is higher than I would normally attempt.
On to the second discipline... bike! Now, I get an awful pain in my knee when I do this (which is a shame as I wish I could do this exercise just for the sheer knackerdness it generates in me), so I decided to try the seated bike instead to see if it made any difference to my knee. I knew doing 15 minutes would not give me any knee pain immediately and would come on later, but I decided to try it anyway. This exercise made me very tired and I worked hard, (with no knee pain felt later either).
And on to the third.... swimming. I hate swimming with a passion, but I did 250 metres over 9 minutes. I felt dizzy when I got out of the pool, but I saw everything I'd done as a good session whilst I'm not running. I finished off with some sauna/steam room and tropicarium and by the time I'd driven home, I felt like I hadn't done any exercise at all. I wondered if I should have pushed myself more.

Today, after a washout of a day (literally.... I didn't get to work due to extensive flooding despite trying to get there for 2 and a half hours!), I tried a bit of shadow boxing while wearing my chain mail. It's the first time I've put it on, and I was surprised at the feeling of compression across my chest. Luckily it didn't last long and I did 30 minutes. I must have looked ridiculous, but I had quite a sweat on.

It's now half an hour later and already my shoulders (a very weak part of my body) are aching. So, although I seem to be recovering well lately, I doubt any nutrition in the world will stop my DOMS tomorrow.

I also went to the physio today. It turns out my peroneus longus is the offending ankle hurter! It's also easily sorted. He gave me some stretches to do and said I'll be fine to run on Saturday... it's just my body adjusting to running again. Great news!!!