enjoy a marathon?). I was looking for around 4:30, but cramp in my left calf at 20 miles stopped me dead ! Thanks to the physio who prodded at it for 10 minutes and got me going again. The bit of a sprint down Birdcage walk saw me avoid a personal worst

3:00 TO 4:00 (Page 8) Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 -->Barry Metcalfe, 3:13I'm back in one piece - just!I started off steady (eight-minute miling) for the first couple of miles to make sure my calf was okay (I had picked up a strain

me up every night. That must have had an impact on my racing." Aside from this the biggest surprise for Shades was picking up an ankle injury from her socks. By Day Six she had also picked up a calf injury and fellow competitor Sue Adams had to pull

UAN:234 Article type:-->Shinsplints are one of the most common running injuries. They result from tired or inflexible calf muscles putting too much stress on tendons, which become strained and torn. Overpronation aggravates this problem, as can

I rose early this morning, as I have done every Sunday for 20 years. The old hip was a bit stiff, and a familiar twinge in the left calf reminded me that these days I ought to sit down before putting on my running shoes.I sifted through a heap

, but the joints do get knocked out of place,” he says. “This leads to the muscles around the joints becoming strained and tense and this tension moves down into Watts’s buttocks and hamstrings, and even down into the calf and ankle.” This leg pain caused

.co.ukThe Flexerciser (£55) can be set at any angle between four and 16 degrees. Stand on it, and it gently stretches and strengthens your calf muscles and Achilles tendon. Alternatively, try a Wobbleboard (from £20) to exercise the muscles and ligaments around your

, a mobile phone, and there are reflective flashes at the calf for added visibility.Contact www.asics.co.uk; 01925 241 041Nike Sphere React Dry – £50Nike's new Sphere React Dry technology at the front of the tights is water-resistant, and a double

inside so it feels soft. It’s really visible, with big reflective stripes on the calves, and very warm. One minor problem is the calf zips, which feel a bit scratchy when running.Contact www.adidas.co.ukNew Balance Tech Jacket, £40 This functional

on cambered beaches throws the body out of alignment, while soft sand places extra stress on the Achilles tendon and calf muscles compared with firm, even surfaces, according to Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise.To play it safe, stick