Training for the marathon starts here! by Fulhamnonny

After having to go to the NHS for physio since October of last year, today I had the pleasure of being discharged!!

I turned up for drills as usual knowing it was my last week. I walked in with my crutches attached to my bag. Everyone had gathered round in the usual place to find out what we were doing for today's session. As soon as I had changed, nearly everyone I've got to know was asking how I done. I showed them very proudly my medal and told them how I felt it had gone.

Then John the physio asked. He asked about my time, but the response I got back from him was luke warm. He just said well done and seemed to be in a mood for the rest of the session.

We had 7 stations in which we were going to 5 sets with the time for each station increasing for each set. We done jump squats, bunny hops, side steps, press ups, hill climbers, holding a medicine ball and going from the ground to holding it above our heads and jumping over a step. Initally I could feel pain in my quads especially the left side which had been hurting during the marathon, but this eased as the session went on.

At the end we had our weekly challenge  which was to hold the plank position and raise our hips up and down in which Michael won. When it comes to the Plank because of his long slender body he can beat everyone. I came second as I was getting to the point of being slightly tired.

At the end of the session, I was asked to go to the desk and see the other physio's. They asked me how it was going and what my goals were. I mentioned that I had just completed the London Marathon and that my next goal was to try and get back to some kind of fitness for rugby. They suggested I could do some stuff in the park by going round cones etc side ways. I didn't mention that as well as tryig to play some rugby over the summer that in about 6 - 8 weeks time I'll be having to start my training all over again as I prepare for running the Berlin marathon. They felt they could not help me any further and so I was free to go!

I'm going to miss seeing the people I've got to know over the past few months. Some of them I plan on keeping in touch with. I've exchanged email addresses and telephone numbers with a couple of people.

I've been feeling pretty good today as I'm not aching at all from Sunday. This has got to be a positive sign. I'll carry on the light exercise as I done last night and hopefully from next week I can start the final stretch of the rehab for my ankle.

Definitely one chapter is ending - as in the whole problem with my ankle and getting through to, and finishing on Sunday but with Berlin coming up and a new training plan, a new goal etc a whole new chapter starts. I'm sad this one is ending as it's certainly been a rollercoaster of a ride!!