My Forum

I pulled my hamstring on New Year's Day whilst training for my first ultra-marathon (32 miles), which takes place in Anglesey in 3 days time. I have had a physio look at it and he has said it is a slight pull and has manipulated the problem area. I have since been slightly stretching it and have managed a 2 mile jog yesterday and 3 mile jog today. I do not feel any pain, just achiness in my hamstring when I run, but it eases once I've stretched it off. I do feel slight twinges in my glutes though. The ultra I've been training for is round the corner, and mainly off road, and I am wondering if I would be a fool to have a crack at it. I have been training for months so know I have the stamina and miles on the clock, even though I have had the last 2 weeks off any form of exercise. I am having a sports massage tomorrow and some KT tape applied too. I'm just fighting withmy conscience now!! Has anyone else made the silly decision I'm tempted to make and not regretted it afterwards by making matters worse?

I have managed to get a qualifying time for the BostonMarathon next year (only just) so am hoping it is enough to get me a place for 2013. I was just wondering if anyone had some recommendations of hotels/ apartments to stay in at a reasonable (ish) price? I have looked at the sports tours packages but at nearly £3k for two of us for 4 days it is a bit more than I was hoping. Any help would be greatly appreciated!! 

Yeah I'm looking forward to Liverpool as it's my hometown one and a lot of the stretch in New Brighton on the Wirral is where I run anyway, and will be great to see my friends and family out supporting me as only had my husband down in London! I think I may give Brighton a miss this year and go for Edinburgh, not just to help me raise more funds, but I'm using running as a good excuse to see as many cities as possible. Barcelona and Rome are high on my list for the year after. Thanks for all the advice though, it is really helpful!

The only reason I am raising money again is becuase I won my London place for next year in a competition and I have agreed to raise money for the company's charity. I am not raising money when I run in Liverpool as I do not want to pester people to death!! It becomes harder than running the race itself!!

Thanks for the tips. I must admit I was drawn more towards Edinburgh. I am tempted by the Barcelona Marathon in March ideally, but can't afford it next year so maybe the year after! The 10 in 10 sounds like a massive challenge, but one I would definitely like a crack at, maybe in a couple more years though!