combination of cramps, a niggly knee and a torrential downpour slowed me down and I finished in 5:33:15, with which I was happy. No pain at all apart from a bit of a twinge from my crocked shin. Looks like I could have tried a lot harder. See you next year :o

barbell. Oops.I became obsessed with what the human knee can and cannot do when one of mine shut down after a couple of days of modest runs over a nearby hill. The technical name for my injury was patellofemoral pain syndrome, otherwise known as PFPS

Ferber.Action Plan Be the tortoise, not the hare. Increase your weekly and monthly running totals gradually. Use the 10 per cent rule as a general guideline, but realise that it might be too aggressive for you - especially if you are injury prone. A five

, but they still hurt like buggery if I so much as get out of bed in a hurry.Not that it’s made much difference to my training, since the Alpine 78K last summer turned my hamstring into a sort of pain-sensitive stalactite. In any case, I’ve joined The Gym. All

line between using and abusing your muscles. The term shin splints generally relates to pain resulting from inflamed calf  muscles, tendons in the lower leg or the thin layer of tissue covering the tibia. It's a common injury for runners that can

Control You need extra support and control. Also best for bigger runners who need plenty of support and durability. See our motion control shoe pages.3. What's causing my stitch and how do I lose it?We're all familiar with that sharp, stabbing pain

have noticed much relief from the pain. The fluid intake needs to be steady over the course of the distance (try to drink 200ml of isotonic drink just before running, and then 200ml for every 15-20 minutes of the run). Get this right, and the chances

. This in turn causes sharp, intense pain that limits hip movement, and any activity requiring contraction of the muscles around the abdomen or hip, or that increases the pressure within your abdomen – such as coughing, sneezing or going to the toilet. While

reached 19 in the race I was rapidly running out of knees. Limpinghome with failure not an option. In pain and getting cold, the final insultcame with a torrential downpour just as I crossed the finish line . When Iretrieved my kitbag it had been stored

to these and some people are more susceptible than others. Try applying ice over the painful area for 20 minutes after the strain occurs.The jury is still out as to whether it is helpful to stretch before you run. In your case, it doesn’t appear to be helping. Try