Flat

It has been one of 'those' weeks. I've felt exhausted Sunday and Monday so elected to rest. Come Tuesday nothing had changed, I was stressed at work n felt I just needed a release, usually what a good training session provides.
Arriving uncharacteristically late, we were warm up sparring. For the next 50 minutes I only got to about 60% intensity and couldn't really find any form. I was left feeling like I'd wasted a session, even though I was reassured by my colleagues, "we all have these days".
Stretching off, something I do everyday of the week and have done for as long as I can remember, I was warm but still felt stiff. Here I am thinking all I need to do is relax and get the most out of my stretches to loosen up, moving from one stretch to the next I felt my troublesome groin/hip go twang!
Yep, it had to happen. To top off a bad start to the week, this just made things a hell of a lot worse. I tried not to think to much on the implications though looming in the back of my mind was the thought that there is less than a month till the British selections and I have a lot of training to do to be competitive here.
With a bit of luck, I was pre booked in to see my physio on Thursday regarding my hip. Explaining how I did it he mentioned two things. Stating "I don't know why you guys do that stretch anyway as its just jamming your hip up" (the problem I have with my hips is to do with cartilage damage from Taekwondo) and "don't worry, I think its just a muscle spasm and not a tear".
Somewhat reassuring, I knew I wasn't going to be Taekwondo training that night, another missed session! I elected to hit the gym and avoid any strenuous leg work and focus on cardio on the bike. (Exercise bike is non impact, unlike running and hence reduces some of the damage to the joints).
Looking back could I have done things differently to avoid this? Im not so sure. Im conscious of the way my body feels and nearly all the time when I have that exact same feeling of tightness a gentle prolonged stretch generaly does it the world of good.
So what was different on this night. I was mentally and physically flat therefore perhaps my body had not loosened up enough during the session and I was stretching without fully concentrating on what I was doing.
And there is my lesson. 'Notice how I feel and listen closer to what my body is telling me'.
Now Im off to the gym for rehab....

Steve