Niggling Gastrocnemius

Posted on January 26, 2011 by Dan Hugo

My celebrations around the Totalsports Challenge we short lived. Running on a cambered beach after seven hours of racing strained the side muscle of my right calf, which plays a stability role. It caused some inflammation and aggression behind the knee and the lower hamstring tendon which somehow restrict a nerve channel. I’ve never had a ‘nervy niggle’ such as this which triggers an awkward feeling when the knee is flexed and foot is dorsiflexed, as would be the case when getting out the car.

There was no running for two weeks, and eventually no flip-turns in the pool either. I spent two days not riding to really give the niggle a chance to restore itself while I swam open water. My treatments were up to two daily in hope of readying for the 70.3 South Africa this past weekend. It’s on the mend, and I have gently jogged three times this week. I’m not totally in the clear but for sure moving in the right direction. I dont really have answers for the Xterra on my schedule this weekend just yet. I’ll assess with as much objective reasoning as I can on Friday morning. But going up to Joburg for certain and am really excited to see more than 1200 athletes take to the Buffelspoort Dam. Just hoping that count includes an able Dan Hugo.

On Sunday I doubled my ride time total for the six previous days. Totally unprofessional and flippant, but my soul was starved and I couldnt resist. Patience is not a strength of mine, and sometimes the spirit can heal the physical I reckon. Christoph Sauser, Ralph Naf (both previous world mountain bike marathon champions?!), Dylan and I did an epic route from Stellenbosch, Grabouw, Kogelberg, Gordon’s Bay…

With a desperate lunch at Pringle Bay. Four hazy eye’d spandex wearing bikers walked into the Lemon Deli and gathered like baboons do in a sweetcorn plantation; as much under each arm as can hold.

There has been much positive and perhaps easing after the Totalsports will serve me well in the long run. Think the event took more out of me than previously with not being as fit as before. Feel I’ve absorbed it now, quite fresh actually. And beyond the physical the past two weeks have been generous as well. Much positive building.