Torn

This weekend started badly, and has got worse! I really can't wait to see what is going to happen to me tomorrow. I'm sure it's going to be perfectly wonderful ... NOT!

Friday night was the first time since the break-up two months ago that I went out onto the local scene. The night was bad, mainly, because three of the places I went in The Ex was there. I thought I was ready to handle seeing him again, but I was wrong. Not a good experience. Certainly not one I want to repeat for quite a while. The other part that turned it into a bad night was the total realisation that I really do not like the scene here. Puddles truly have more depth.

Anyway, Saturday morning, I went to the gym. I spent time warming up before going into the Body Step/Body Pump class. I've just got back into the Body Step side of things, and I'm really enjoying them again.

Half way through the fifth track I stepped backwards of the step and, as I put the toes of my right foot onto the floor, I felt an incredibly painful 'pop' in the back of my right leg. The pain traveled both up and down the back of my leg and I nearly fell over.

I initially thought I'd landed badly and tried to carry on, but I found that I couldn't put pressure on my leg at all. I hobbled out to the gym reception and asked for someone to check my leg out. After a quick check, it was suggested that I should go to A&E to have it looked at more closely. Could be a muscle tear, could be a broken bone. One of the instructors gave me a lift to the hospital.

The good news is that it's not a broken bone ... The bad news is that I've torn my Gastrocnemius muscle - the calf to you and me - close to the point where it joins the Soleus muscle.

There was nothing more that the hospital staff could do. It's one of those tears that relies on time to heal it. So, no intense leg-work or running. No cycling or fast walking for at least 4 weeks, possibly 6. As I found, it certainly means no trying to get anywhere at any more speed than snail could do. I can still do upper-body strength training, and swimming. I feel that my legs are rather over developed at the moment anyway (he said bravely), so a rest for them will be good to try and allow the upper half of me to catch up!

The gym staff have been great about it. I went back there this afternoon to pick up the stuff I'd left in the morning, and they're going to sort me out with a gym program whilst my leg repairs itself.

For the record, I'd like to make mention of a couple of "thanks you's" ...

To my great friend J for patiently coping with my outburst and rant last night. OK, it was by text, but the things I was saying on my way home would have given me cause for concern if they'd been said to me.

To all the staff at the gym. It's good to know that they genuinely care for their members. More than that, I feel like I've got friends there.