Rachel McDowell Massage Therapy

28/04/2026

I thought I’d take this opportunity to give all my new followers a little introduction and say hello again to my existing followers! 👋

I qualified as a holistic therapist back in 2014 and went on to complete my sports/remedial massage in 2015. After moving out here from the Cotswolds I set my little business up and haven’t looked back!

My hubby and I spend a lot of our spare time either running or hiking the trails and, in particular, the stunning Mourne Mountains. Our three dogs are also a massive part of our lives and you’ll often see them waiting patiently at the front window to greet my clients! 🐕🐕🐕

⭐️I don’t follow a set routine, my treatments are tailored to each client’s specific issue/needs and I don’t stop talking! For me, communication is key!

⭐️I don’t cause as much pain as humanely possible either 👍. Sports massage can get a bad reputation for feeling incredibly sore and yes, while certain aspects of it can sometimes cause a little discomfort, once you get into the routine of having them done regularly, they’ll never feel as sore!

25/04/2026

The very best of luck to everyone running the London Marathon tomorrow!! 🥳👏🏻

This iconic race holds a very special place in my heart as it was the very first marathon I trained for, and what a day it was! The atmosphere was phenomenal and I remember smiling from ear to ear the whole way round. All those months of training in the winter weather paid off and I ended up hungry for more.

Fast forward 18 years and trail ultra marathons are my thing. Tonight I’ll be heading out with my husband and a big band of fellow ultra runners to take on our last recce run for the NI100. Starting at 8pm in Articlave we will traverse 32 miles of forests, bogs and undulating terrain, aiming for Dungiven at around 5am tomorrow 😉.

If you’d have told me 18 years ago this is what I’d end up doing I’d have laughed in your face!! All it takes is that first step and who knows where your running journey will take you?! 🏃🏃🏻‍♀️

06/02/2026

A Strava review from one of my new clients, a very keen triathlete who had never experienced a sports massage before!

15/01/2026

9 weeks after badly spraining my ankle while trail running up in the mournes, this morning saw me going on a first tentative jog to test it out and boy, did it feel strange!

Feeling like a complete beginner but all the strength training, massage, exercises and patience (that was hard for me!), paid off and I’m just a tad excited at what this year holds for me in terms of hitting some new goals👍

Now to gradually build the miles and ensure the strength work and exercises continue, not to mention the massage!
🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️

29/12/2025

What are your goals for 2026? 🤔

My personal goal for the start of the year will be to get back to running again, following a bad sprain to my right ankle back in November. I’ve been diligently and patiently working away in the gym, getting stronger than ever so the body is primed and ready for the high impact which running entails. 🏃🏻‍♀️

When injury sidelines you from the sport you love, it’s so easy to become despondent, completely give up and do nothing.

However, taking a proactive approach and focusing on the stuff which we SHOULD be doing to keep our bodies strong enough to withstand our chosen sport, will absolutely pay dividends and help to prevent future injuries. 💪🏻

Regular strength training, sports massage for recovery and mobility, not to mention good nutrition/hydration will go a very long way to ensure we can continue doing the stuff we love and do it well!☺️⭐️

A very Happy New Year to all my amazing clients and I look forward to hearing about the goals you intend smashing in 2026! 💪🏻👍❤️

12/12/2025

It’s been yet another super busy week here in the cabin and I just wanted to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to all my wonderful clients for your support over the past year and, of course, the many laughs shared as well😌

I hope you all have a very peaceful Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year❤️🎄

See you in 2026🎉

09/12/2025

A lovely review from my new client via Strava! 😌

08/12/2025

01/12/2025

It’s been a little over 2 weeks since I took a tumble in the mountains and sprained my ankle but at long last, I can begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel! 👏🏻

The swelling is all but gone and I’m not limping around the couch trying to treat clients 😆 but I’m being very sensible and not doing too much too soon, so as not to re-injure the ligaments and cause on-going issues. There’s still soreness with certain movements but going to the gym and focusing on strengthening the upper body, core and legs will ensure I’m in the best possible shape to return to running (hopefully in January!!).

Until then, strengthening of the ankle will begin once I’m fully pain-free. For anyone who’s been injured and been forced to stop their fave activity, I feel ya!!

It’ll be a slow process but these things cannot be rushed!

On the plus side, I’m going to have arms like Arnie by the time January comes! 😂💪🏻

25/11/2025

Just a heads up that my diary is almost full in the lead-up to Christmas so any requests for appointments will have to go on the waiting list for cancellations.

It’s been a super busy year and again, I’m so thankful for all my incredibly supportive clients ❤️

19/11/2025

Did you hear the one about the Sports Massage Therapist who sprained her ankle while out running the mountains….?

Nope! It’s not a joke! It really happened! 🙄🙈

But you know what? It could have happened on a flat, straight road with no mud or obstacles and here’s the thing: we were all having so much fun beforehand and you just can’t wrap yourself up in cotton wool and hide away when the going gets a little rough and tough💪🏻

Rehab begins as soon as the swelling eases up, which will mean a shed load of mobility, stability and proprioception work then on to gradually increasing the load on the ligaments until I can even begin to think about running again🤞🏻

These ankles are going to be the strongest they’ve ever been and hey mountains, I’m coming to get ya! ⛰️🏃🏻‍♀️