Since my 20 mile run on Saturday my left hamstring feels a little sore/tender. I went for a 4 mile recovery run on Sunday and it has been sore since then, although it's not as bad today. I have had two day's rest. It no longer hurts with normal walking/stretching but is sore if I put pressure on it at a certain point. I wanted to go for a run tomorrow night. Do you think this is ok, or will it make it worse? I've never had an injury or a niggle before, so I don't want to take a risk. I wasn't planning on doing anything hardcore. Just a gentle 6 miler or something.

i think u should try to stretch it 3-4 times a day if its tight running stands a chance of pulling it IMO

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I would rest it. It is the first time you have run the distance and the time wasn't shabby. You will have damaged your muscles and they should be given time to recover. A 6 miler is more than some people run in a week

Once you have built the mileage in your legs running through the week should be fine but as ever build it slowly to avoid injury.

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0 - 14 Miles in 6 months, 2 hours, 13 minutes and 58 seconds.
Start weight: 18 st 4.. Current weight: 14 st 8.. Current Goal: Duchy Marathon, 8th March 2009

Lol, don't you just loved the varied opinions available
I'd look to do another recovery run - maybe 4 miles, no more than 6 if you're keen to do that much. If you can walk and stretch it without pain then I'd have thought it'd be okay... an easy run will let you know where you're at... if you come back and feel stiffer after you've cooled down, then next time you'll know that level of discomfort needs a little more rest

Hrun's right though, a 20miler is going to damage muscles and will take a while to fully recover - as you get used to the higher mileage then the after effects of long runs you become less n less.

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I was only basing it on the fact that the first time I ran 13 it took 4 days before I stopped aching. Having run the distance regularly for a few weeks I am now fine by the end of the day.

I believe this is as I build the mileage into my legs. Hardly scientific

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0 - 14 Miles in 6 months, 2 hours, 13 minutes and 58 seconds.
Start weight: 18 st 4.. Current weight: 14 st 8.. Current Goal: Duchy Marathon, 8th March 2009

I think I'll try a short, slow run tomorrow and see what happens. It's just my left hamstring that is tender. What's weird is that it didn't hurt the evening or morning after my long run. It only started hurting after the recovery run. Maybe I ran too soon after the long run and strained it a bit. I'll definitely go easy on it, even though I'm anxious to get out and do some more mileage. Spending 2 days in Milton keynes eating crap conference food and no exercise has seriously messed with my mood!

JB I take it you're marathon training? How long to go until the run? I had a niggle in my calf a couple of times and it really played on my mind - in fact it's what brought me to this site!!! I have had no problems at all with it since the marathon (3 weeks ago) and I am starting to think that my head played as big a part in the injury as my calf muscle did. No doubt there was some initial damage but I became so scared to run and ruin my chances of lining up I think I convinced myself it was worse than it was. I woke up thinking about it and spent a good part of my day poking and prodding the calf to see if I could feel anything dodgy. I rana grand total of between 4-6 miles in the two weeks before the marathon. The rest of the time I spent on the exercise bike and in a swimming pool.

My point is if you can try a short, easy run trying not to think about the hamstring, and, as richard says, see how you feel afterwards. I pulled a hamstring (properly pulled it, tore it in fact) playing football. You know when you've done it and it is a bugger to recover from. If you've any spare cash I would invest in a physio for an hour to set your mind at ease (a decent one anyway) I was skint when I needed one most, so didn't follow my own advice!

As every expert says, listen to your body. It might be telling you to take a few days off training or to vary it with some gym work.

What part of the Hamstring is it? Middle/ top/ bottom? Can you feel any knots where the pain is after pressuring it? Are you icing it?

Sorry or the long winded answer!

I'd still do a gentle run..nothing hardcore though as you say JB.

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The marathon isn't for 6 months yet, so I'm not in full training for it yet. Just wanted to increase my long run for the fun of it etc.

It's the middle of the hamstring that's sore, but only now if I push down on it. Can't feel any knot.

I went out for a 10k run this evening and it was fine for the first 4 miles. I could feel it slightly on the last couple of miles. Still a little sore when I put pressure on it, but not too bad at all really. Probably go out for a shorter run tomorrow, then rest friday. Hopefully by the weekend it will be completely fine so I can do some longer runs and/or speed work.

Good to hear its on the mend JB.

O.

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It feels much better today. A tiny bit sore when I put pressure on it, but not as bad as it has been. Must have just been a little tight after the weekend running. Will try to go for a short run this evening, but not too fast.