I’m back running. Very short and gentle outings of 3-4km but it makes me sooo happy 😃.

I finally saw the physio at Runners hub, who was excellent. She listened and was very thorough. She checked length of legs, angle of pelvis, strength of many different muscles including smaller ones you don’t think about. She checked mobility.

The final conclusion: I have gluteal tendinopathy rather than hip bursitis (both sit within the term greater trochanter pain syndrome). So I was nearly right. Regardless, it was nice to not only get a diagnosis but further feedback on what I can and can’t do as well as a get back to ultra running program. In short if you’re a runner, I highly recommend her.

She said I can run but only every other day. On the day off I assess if there is any pain and it must be kept under 3/10. I can then increase or decrease volume in line with this. Once I’ve found my line I stick to this during the rehab period. So far I’ve barely experienced a 1/10 so am quite content.

I have a list of isometric exercises to do which I do at the gym with my other strength workouts. Isometrics are where you hold a move. For example lift one leg up and hold the outer thigh against the wall for 10 sec. The leg standing is the leg you are working (this one works the glute).

She confirmed some lordosis (tipping of the pelvis ) but said it wasn’t really bad. I have one glute stronger and the other side of my body is more mobile so my rehab is focussing on individual leg muscle strength or mobility exercises to even things up.

I’m feeling better all the time but it will take a little while. I’m going back for some treatment on a muscle in my back (the QL for those interested). Apparently it’s rock hard and keeps tightening up even when my body doesn’t need to utilise it.

So all looking good. She felt I could still do an Ultra in 2026. Just not sure if it will be the 268 mile race I’ve signed up for or something more palatable like a 60-70 miler (lol).

Although seeing a specialist is not cheap, neither is signing up to races you then can’t do. It feels very worth it.

We are now off on holiday so I’m looking forward to some nice walks and short runs in the sunshine. Plenty of swimming and hitting the hotel gym to do my rehab. Of course we will also be chilling, eating, drinking and inevitably reading lots of books.