TREATMENT STORIES
CLIENT SPOTLIGHT: RHEA SHEPHERD
Through 2020 I had been training for Barcelona Ironman as part of the 10Ironwomen community. Having trained for 6 months and feeling as ready as I could be, our event was cancelled 6 weeks before we were due to race. Given the effort I’d put in and feeling at the peak of my physical fitness, a small group of us decided to carry on training to have our own “DIY” Brighton Ironwoman.
At the beginning of October when I should have been in sunny Barcelona, I completed the 3.8km sea swim, 180km bike ride and 42.2km run, on what turned out to be the rainiest day on record since 1891!
Having previously trained for cycling events and marathons, I have always been aware that I am terrible at overtraining and not stretching and conditioning my body properly. I started having sports massages with Laura at Fix just before I started Ironman training, as I was initially experiencing hip pain. Being one of the least flexible people I know, I chose Laura as I was hoping her expertise in both yoga and sports massage would help me stretch and loosen my muscles more, helping me to be in the best shape possible.
Having appointments on a regular basis has been fantastic throughout my training: All hip pain has gone through various exercises and stretches that Laura showed me, as well as now working on all my muscle groups to generally relieve aches and pains from intense periods of training. Laura takes time to understand what sports/activities you do and teaches you recovery and prevention stretches/workouts that fit within your lifestyle. Having these sessions is now well and truly part of my training routine and I would highly recommend Laura to others.
I’m now focussed on my new goal of competing at Hamburg Ironman at the beginning of June 2021 and still have regular sessions at Fix. For others looking to push their training to the next level I’d advise following a fitness programme or speaking to a coach. The most important thing is to listen to your body and don’t overdo it, injury prevention including massage and proper time for recovery are so important to getting fitter and achieving your goals.