My right groin area has been hurting for the majority of this year. I don’t remember having pain like this before this year and specifically the first time I remember feeling this is after riding a very large horse in a parade in March.

The horse was huge and gentle but it was my first time riding in a public parade and it was the last time I would ride with my daughter before her deployment so I was nervous and stressed all at the same time as being proud to be riding with her.

I do remember being very nervous about keeping the horse in line (even though she wasn’t difficult but I am not experienced) and I do believe this is the widest I’ve had to keep my legs turned open.

A couple months later I was riding another horse who is quite large and it was a stressful moment as I was struggling to get him to obey (I’m still inexperienced), he decided to lower his head as if to eat and then took off like a bat out of hell with me side straddling him holding on with a leg grip for life and my arms grabbing his mane as if my life depended on it. I eventually let go and was not hurt aside from a hard landing on the ground. My pride was hurt the most.

I did continue to experience varied pain but never while riding my bike or jogging/walking. I noticed hill hiking bothered the groin area so I began to back off on that. But my gait during my runs continued to get better and better and I had zero groin pain while running.

In July I ran my first MAF Mile non stop and it was pain free. Another time on a mountain bike trail I began to notice some groin pain on some tougher terrain.

So I backed off of hard terrain on the bike, no more jogging with the waist leash and the dog, and for now I’ve stopped jogging because I can’t say it’s not being irritated.

A couple weekends ago I finally got severe enough pain I thought I’d have to go to the doctor for an MRI then I chose to research groin issues and cyclists and runners. This is where I found hope.

There are nearly just as many people who heal themselves as there are those who have surgery.

I’m a believer in trying any and all things before any surgery!

So I’ve self diagnosed myself with FAI (femoroacetabular impingement). Every single thing about every single article I’ve read applies to me. So far the exercises I’ve chosen to start with have brought relief for sure!

Basically the ball and socket of my hip are irritated. Makes sense because I know I have a rectus femoris that is super tight on that hip, and I definitely could have minor tears on the labrum or it could just be inflamed. It’s obviously pinching at some point in my movement and I am working to keep my external rotators (piriformis etc.) loosened up

So I’ll head through this journey and notate my successes and setbacks because at some point someone else will struggle with this!

My big win this year is my gait improvement and my cardiovascular health. I’m stoked to continue to improve it along with my hip.

It’s easy to fall out of the habit of mobility work but DON’T! The body can surprise you faster than you realize.