May 2023 found me in a field at the bottom of Loch Ness with some people who think running 110 km over 2 days is fun...

In May 2023,  I volunteered my time with Ultra-X these guys are mad! Ultra-X is a UK-based company that hosts ultra marathons over Great Britain and globally, these events are usually a minimum of 50km to 250km long and have some pretty gnarly elevation to them! 

The athletes who take part and compete are not your normal runners... These runners are trained in hill accents and descents, distance running- meaning 26 miles is a breeze to them! Ultra runners also altitude train, meaning they practice their running work at high altitudes so their bodies are well adapted for those high climbing days.

My role as a sports therapist whilst up in Scotland was to provide all soft tissue therapy and support to these amazing athletes. I had lots of hands-on experience from pre-race sports massages, injury assessment, post-race soft tissue work and also some strapping and taping. 

A common issue I came across during my time with the Ultra-X Scotland 110km race was knees. The descents over the Scottish mountain rangers were intense. The runners were suffering from the hard ground, rocky terrain and sharp descents. My job was to make sure they could carry on (safely) and to help limit their pain as best I could! 

Kinesio tape was my best friend that weekend, along with our classic zinc and EAB. K-tape is a great tool that has the strength to support joints, and muscles in a proprioceptive manner but also the flexibility to still allow the runners their full range of movement without restrictions. 

Working in an outdoor setting under a canopy with views of Loch Ness was a little different to my everyday indoor clinic setting in the Cotswolds, but was such a beautiful experience in which I learned a lot and was able to apply so much to my work back at home. My appreciation for runners and ultra runners has greatly increased so much so that I have been inspired to dig out my running shoes and get out and about! With the warmer weather upon us, I thought what better time to start?

If you're inspired or interested in running a few tips of mine, that I found hugely beneficial...

Invest in some decent running trainers! - your old shoes might have been okay during the lockdown, but having a decent supportive trainer for your feet will help you no end in limiting sore feet and reducing blister risk! (Also who doesn't love a new pair of shoes!?)

Join a run club near you - running with others was a completely different ball game and I really enjoyed the social aspect of it. I met new people, had a giggle and managed to run 7.5km in one hit!!

Try listening to different things - some people really vibe with music, but I did not... I found myself constantly trying to run to the beat of the music getting me out of breath and never finding a comfortable rhythm. Instead, I found podcasts, it feels like you're in the middle of a conversation with someone and some can be very amusing!

Prevention rather than cure- find yourself a good sports therapist... Having regular maintenance massages and soft tissue therapy will greatly improve your running and recovery time. As we knew, a sports massage can help to break down scar tissue from old injuries and reduce muscle tension which will, in turn, support your rest and recovery from your long runs. take breaks when you need and don't overdo it too soon. rest days and recovery are huge when it comes to progress!