You might improve general fitness with cross training if your starting point was not too high (i.e., most serious runners in good shape aren't expecting improvement but really just hoping for maintenance). More specific to running is better, so elliptical and pool running are better than swimming and cycling, but do what you can do. Let pain be your guide: if it doesn't hurt or if you feel it only in a minor way, then it's fine to do that kind of cross training. If it hurts a lot, then you're just aggravating it. I had a groin strain a couple of years ago that took ages to heal in large part because I kept running on it (it didn't much bother me unless I was running hard). One thing I did that was a short-term help was to buy one of those stretchy groin/upper thigh straps that wrap tightly around your upper thigh and attach with velcro. It provided a little bit of support and was definitely helpful. Depending on when your time trial is, it's worth trying and they're pretty easy and cheap to get. I bought the "McDavid 475 Adjustable Groin Wrap" on Amazon for $16.
Autumnsummers1 wrote:
Hi so I have a little bit of a groin niggle and I need to rest it. At the mo I am training for a 1.5 mile run I can almost do the time but I need some more training. If I stick to training that won't aggravate my groin like swimming and over all fitness after my rest will I find an improvement in my run time or do I need to be running for that ? Also what training would people recommend can I use a stationary bike and cross trainer or is this bad for the injury.
Thanks in advance