New Shoes

I had a pair of flip flops that I used to slip on for driving to and from the pool as it made it so much easier than having to fully dry my feet and worry about putting socks on after so that I could wear trainers/shoes/boots. The flip flops broke a good while ago and I don't have any others that have a strap that goes around your heel so didn't have any suitable to drive in. After a few soggy sock episodes, I decided to buy myself some new shoes for the sole purpose of driving to and from the pool, shoes that won't need socks, shoes that won't matter if my feet are still a bit wet, shoes that my Hubby thinks makes me look 'special'...

What do you think??

It's Been a While

Tonight I got back in the pool after nearly 4 weeks away... No I've not been lazy, granted work has been hectic but that's still not the main reason, I've actually been injured!

As some of you may know my other passion in life is horse riding. I ride once a week at a local stables, riding the school horses as I'm not lucky enough to have my own horse (yet!). It was the Thursday before Easter and when I got to the stables I was told I'd be riding Paddy, a new horse at the stables I'd never riden before. 

He's such a handsome boy and a real sweetheart to ride. That night we were playing games, on the way back from one of my runs Paddy's saddle slipped to the right, I remember my teacher telling me to get off so I pulled the reins to bring him to a hault and took my feet out of the stirrups... Next thing I remember is being sat in the stables office very confused, being asked if my Husband was at home.

Apparently, as I tried to stop Paddy he'd brushed his leg against a post which had spooked him and caused him to run... With a sideways saddle and my feet out of the stirrups I had no chance and had fallen off. I must have banged my head pretty hard as I was knocked unconscious even though I was wearing my riding hat. I'm told I wasn't out for too long and slowly got up and with a bit of help walked to the office. That explained the confusion! However, I had not taken my phone with me, couldn't remember if Hubby was at home or not and couldn't remember his mobile number! 

As I had been knocked out my teacher rang the non emergency version of 999 (is it 111 or 101? Something like that!) and because I didn't know whether Hubby was at home they didn't want to risk me being home alone with concusion so I agreed to a little trip in an ambulance to A&E. 

After racking my brains and so far only remembering the home phone number for our old house (which is no longer in service) I managed to remember my Mum & Dad's phone number. I also vaguly remembered that Hubby was home as I'd eaten some of his pasta tortellini. So before being taken away in the ambulance, I rang Mum & asked her to contact Hubby and for him to meet me at A&E.

I don't remember a lot of the ambulance journey, but remember being very uncomfortable as my lower back was very sore. When I arrived at A&E Hubby was there and he stayed with me as I was examined. The doctor explained to him that I had concusion but that they were not too worried and quite happy from the obs that I hadn't sustained a more serious head injury. What they were worried about was my back. The doctor felt down my spine and I had to tell him when it hurt and boy did it hurt when he prodded me! "I just need to lay you down flat" I was told and the bed was lowered flat. I thought he wanted to know whether it was still as sore when I was flat but no... I wasn't to move, I was being sent for spinal X-Rays as I may have damaged my vertebrae! GREAT!

Anyway, the X-Rays came back all clear and I was allowed home. The pain in my lower back and right in the centre of my right buttock hung around for a good couple of week, slowly easing last week from the constant pain to a dull ache every now and then, just in time for my bestie's hen weekend in Barcelona 😊

Despite the pain in my right buttock making a reappearance last night, I was determined to get back in the pool today... It's amazing how much you miss something like swimming when you are unable to go! I started off with a few lengths in my usual medium lane but was concerned I may push myself too much if I swam at my usual pace so decided to swim with my friend in the slow lane and take it a bit easier. I did 40 lengths (1km) at a nice steady pace and feel ok... Think I will feel it in the morning as my back is starting to make itself known but I'm glad I managed to get back in the pool. 

Next swim will be Wednesday, probably another gentle one before easing myself back in to the medium lane once I'm happy my back will be OK... Just need to make sure I stay on my horse between now and end August so that there is no more distribution to my training!