Hamstring strain to test fitness for big race

Hamstring strain to test fitness for big race


Anton McNulty

The last time I wrote in this section, I was all set to get into the training routine and was determined to get into the best shape I could for the Half-Marathon. Sadly a day on the bog footing turf has put paid to those intentions.
I woke up the morning after being on the bog, barely able to move as the back of my legs had seized up. After a few days without much comfort, I decided to go to a physio who told me I had strained my hamstrings and just for good measure it was connected to a back injury.
Three weeks of physio, intensive stretching of the hamstring and back muscles along with sessions in the pool followed before I was able to get back training. Feeling a lot better I decided to test out the hammer and while it just about stood up to inspection, I can’t say the same thing about my fitness.
The lungs were burning, the sweat was pouring off me and the slightest hills felt like going up Everest. Any fitness I had was now shot to hell and the pressure is now on.
There are less than four weeks left until race day and the big battle between now and July 2 is to get as fit as I can without damaging more muscles in the process. However I am determined to carry on unlike some of my Mayo News colleagues who are coming up with more excuses to pull out that would put the Irish football team to shame.
My advice to anyone in training is to keep away from the bog until now and July 4.