Interview with Daniela Gormley of Advanced Sport Massage

I first came across Daniela in early 2016 after I had sustained a calf injury the previous November. I had been on a Tuesday evening club run and I was a couple of miles from home when I pulled up with a calf muscle strain and had to limp back to my starting point. I gave the muscle good time to heal and I didn't try to run again until I was off work for the Christmas break, but as soon as I got to the three mile mark, my calf went again, and this kept happening and I just couldn't seem to get past three miles, no matter how slowly I ran.

Daniela was brought to my attention after I had asked advice from my fellow runners at the running club who suggested I see a sport therapist, I was given Daniela's phone number and so I contacted her and I made an after work appointment to see her.

She was very good! Daniela explained what was going on with my calf and showed me in a picture which muscles were giving me the problem and she set to work on it. She was firm without being brutal and she chatted to me all the while. Daniela also gave me advice as to what I could do to help myself, with stretching exercises and slow recovery runs.

I was going to see Daniela every two weeks and found improvement was going on, but then I would have another set back, so I tried several other things to help myself. I bought a foam roller, did more stretching, tried compression socks to help support the muscles and improve blood flow, and I changed my trainers also, shying away from cheap trainers to something much more expensive, and I did notice the difference. Later I also changed the compression socks, on Daniela's advise, to a good quality calf guard.

All of these things put together, the change in equipment, Daniela's recovery running advice, and her massages did the trick, and in March 2017 I took part, and completed, (without injury), the Newport half marathon, and I followed that up with completing a further six half marathons that year.

I was still going back to see Daniela every 2 - 3 weeks for a maintenance massage and I feel that I have really benefited from that, and Daniela was noticing the difference in my muscles too, which weren't so tight as they had been when I first began to be treated by her. Daniela has always advocated maintenance massages, and not for athletes to see her only when they have an issue.

Daniela is also a runner, having competed in many races, including marathons, but she absolutely loves trail and fell running, and so she loves running up and down hills, and she doesn't like running on flat courses at all, which she finds boring. She has also done wild water swimming and plays hockey for a local team, so when it comes to running, she has a vast amount of experience.

Here is the interview.

Daniela, what made you take up running?

I started running in Hereford , I used to climb gym aerobics 5/6 days a week and I knew many local runners who used to head off from the river steps. It was on one of these evenings where I met the Wye Valley Runners and I took up the sport.

My first run was with Harry Franklin, 6 miles along the river to the springs mostly path off road ( I think I was 25 and a late starter)

I know you belong to Griffithstown Harriers in Cwmbran, what do you like about being part of a club?

I think running with Griffithstown Harriers has kept me competing as I don’t think I would race as much if I didn’t belong to a club.  This year I won the Club championship, 1st female over 45 and 1st Female overall !

I know you enjoy running off road, what is it about off road that you find so appealing?

I started off road running when I moved to Torfaen and I found that there were several fab off road routes to do.  As a New Years resolution I took it upon myself to do a fell race and contacted the Welsh Fell Runners who told me of a race, and with only 2 weeks notice I ran the Darren in Risca and I was hooked. The 2nd was Llanbedr to Blaenavon, 15 miles over Crug Mawr, Sugar Loaf and Blorenge. I was about 30 I think !

I do like to mix up my running and over the next 2 years I will be heading more off road, and trying out some trail races . I recently did a night race and I have plans to do much more.

Do you take part in any other sports or use a gym?

I should cross train more but currently I do 3 runs per week, 1 strength training session, (which I had neglected doing for 2 years 😱) and I play hockey usually once a week. In the summer I replace hockey usually with some swimming and once feeling stronger in the water I do a bit of out door swimming in the rivers Usk or Wye.

Please tell me about your Advanced Sport Massage business. Why and how did you get started?

I started my Advanced Sports Massage business when I was injured. I couldn’t train at all, no swimming, biking, nothing due to a pelvis injury, I had multiple stress fractures. So after climbing the walls and after watching more TV than I could possibly face, I decided to do something with my time and there was a Sports therapy course, which was just what the doctor ordered ( although the doctors didn’t diagnose what was wrong with me for 18 long months). 

So self fixed and qualified, I started up my business, and I haven’t looked back.  Each year I do 2 courses to add to my knowledge and I learn new techniques which I can pass onto my clients.
This year I did a sports taping course with Welsh rugby player, Sam Warburton  and last weekend I spent on a mountain in North Wales doing a 2 day first aid course.

Your business appears to have grown greatly since I have known you. Do you have any future goals for this business? Expansion maybe?

I was thinking about business direction, and unusually for me it doesn’t have one . I am just happy to be day to day helping out with peoples questions on injuries, strains, pulls etc. I never know what treatment is coming next and I have dealt with compressed trapped nerves in the neck to rehabbing knees after serious surgery, to multiple crash whiplash trauma and clients with on going issues to help eliminate or reduce pain or movement limitations.

I am happy just being as I am. I pay my bills and I have a bit left over, enough for race entry and 1 or 2 holidays a year, which is enough for me .

Thank you Daniela, you certainly helped me through my injury problems, and without your help and guidance I would probably have given up running altogether, and I am happy to say that you are not only my sport therapist, but you have also become a good friend.

If you feel you would benefit from Daniela's services, she can be contacted on 07595 218994 or, see her Facebook Page for details.