Wimbledon runner vows to overcome injuries

By Chris Madden

An injury-hit marathon runner from Wimbledon is determined to face the challenge again.

Hannah Casey, 21, of Cromwell Road, completed this years Virgin London Marathon in five and a half hours, carrying a stress fracture, with knee and ankle injuries.

But she is determined to return to face the challenge again one day.

“It felt fantastic to finish,” said Miss Casey.

“Knowing that I had pushed myself to do something I never thought I could do, and doing it so riddled with injury.”

During her final long training run Miss Casey developed runners knee, by race day she had both knees strapped and a problem with her left ankle.

She says a mixture of painkillers and determination drove her to the finish.

“Running with a stress fracture is just the worst, thing you can do, it’s so painful,” said Paula Coates, a Chartered Physiotherapist and Health and Fitness Expert.

“It can affect the way you run.”

Ms Coates said that the injuries are manageable if treated during training, but to run with them can cause problems which take a long time to resolve.

Miss Casey’s injuries forced her to abandon her target time of four hours, but she is determined to return.

“I would 100% do it again,” she said.

“When running has become more of an integral part of my routine.”

She raised £2000 for The Anthony Nolan Trust who helped when her father developed cancer.

“We rely on our dedicated fundraisers,” said Victoria Moffett, the Trust’s Communications Officer.

“The money raised helps us to grow our register of bone marrow donors; all of whom could save the life of someone with leukaemia.”

The injuries and early-morning winter training made Miss Casey’s experience more difficult.

But she said quitting was never an option.

“The sense of achievement really built up,” she said.

“After all those months of training you’ve done something to be so proud of.”

For information on The Anthony Nolan Trust call 0303 303 0303 or visit www.anthonynolan.org.uk.