This was my 20th marathon!

L) hammie gave no trouble throughout entire run despite the first 15k being hilly. This was the major concern coming into the race but I was able to push strongly through the opening hilly 15km.

Bizarrely at 26km my R) hamstring started to hurt and unable to shake it off I stopped to stretch it.This had no effect and it wasn't apparent until after the race that I could see that I had badly torn the Biceps Femoris just above the knee. It was already bruised. No wonder the stretch didn't help!

Can't explain this R) hammie injury - I was on flat ground ( last hill was 10km earlier) and I was moving at a steady pace in a straight line.

The pain did subside after another 5km and while it slowed down my second half, it wasn't how stopper. I actually started to feel stronger after 35km which is not usual.
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A few more longer training runs may have helped but otherwise happy with race, notwithstanding the R) hamstring failure.
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Beer, walk back to hotel, then off to airport for flight home.


R) hamstring


Brilliant course, well organised. Will be back again for my 5th Auckland Marathon next year.