I am attempting to run Race to the Stones in July, a 100km (62 mile) Ultra Marathon. This is a blog following my training and hopefully the race.
It’s been a few weeks since I last wrote about my journey to becoming an ultramarathoner. I spent February increasing my mileage and unsuccessfully ignoring a niggling pain in my buttocks.
I completed a couple of thirty mile weeks, including a nice week away in Staffordshire when I managed to have a pleasant run along the canal in Tamworth.
I was also fortunate to run with a running group up there and share experiences with a friend, Sid, who is going to run from Tamworth to Liverpool along the canals.
Since then, I’ve really struggled. The pain in my posterior got worse and worse until such time as I was unable to run 5km. Eventually, I gave in and went to see a physiotherapist. I’ve been given some exercises to do in order to strengthen my glutes and loosen off my hamstrings.
Luckily, the training plan published by the Race to the Stones organisers is quite gentle in the first few weeks, so I’ve managed to keep up with their plan so I’m still reasonably confident that I will be able to get up to the mileage required before the middle of July.
I’ve been able to get out a run a few 10km runs with my friends in Rebel Runners, whose support has been invaluable in getting through this tough period.
Hopefully, over the next few weeks I’ll get stronger as by the end of next month I’ll be looking at doing 25km run, which is just over half-marathon distance.
I am raising money for the Oliver Fisher Special Care Unit Trust, who support the work of the Oliver Fisher neo natal care unit at Medway Hospital. Feel free to donate here:-