The Hackney Half

May 7, 2025 Sara Slide

East London’s very own festival of running is nearly upon us and excitement is mounting among Victoria park’s running community.

I took part last year and I’d have to say that I enjoyed a lot, despite terrible pacing and my various misgivings about the ethics of the hackney half.

The cynic in me dislikes the fact that it’s sponsored by a budget airline (or any airline for that matter) and also that the race isn’t officially validated, so the time wouldn't count for something like a good for age entry for the London Marathon.

London Maranoia??

April 10, 2025 Sara Slide

It’s London Marathon season and everyone’s getting excited (except for me, I’m getting FOMO as I forgot to enter). There’s nothing quite like the magic of the London Marathon (magical around the cutty sark, miserable by canary wharf). But are you read for race day?

For a lot of runners that excitement can morph into anxiety about whether their training has been good enough, how they’ll react to energy gels on race day, if they have the right shoes, even if the weather on race day will suit them….and for lots of people this can be about wondering if they have a serious injury that’s going to ruin the big day.

Lots of people are turning up in clinics with what was traditionally termed ‘Maranoia’. I’m not a massive fan of the term because ultimately people do get injured training for the marathon (some of them seriously). It’s important to take all pain seriously at any stage of marathon training but also be aware that during these final few weeks of training, emotional anxiety levels will be high, this can increase your awareness of pain, making relatively minor niggles feel like serious injuries that might put your marathon dreams in jeopardy. If in doubt get it checked out…

It's marathon season but is cross country still worthwhile??

February 11, 2025 Sara Slide

While the running boom continues, I see a disproportionate bias towards marathon running and commercial trail running. The old favourites such as fell running, track and cross country (XC) seem to be a bit less glamorous and haven’t captured the popular imagination in the same way.

London Marathon Training (Top Tips)

January 27, 2025 Sara Slide

Running the London Marathon is a considerable achievement, whether it's your first race or your tenth. The excitement of crossing that iconic finish line keeps runners (including me) returning year after year. Training for a marathon can have enormous physical and mental benefits.

New Year, New You: A Sustainable Approach to Health and Fitness

January 6, 2025 Sara Slide

The new year often sparks a wave of resolutions – lose weight, get fit, eat healthier.

Drastic measures like crash diets and gruelling workout routines might seem appealing initially, but they often lead to burnout, injury, and, ultimately, giving up altogether, so let's ditch the all-or-nothing mentality and focus on building sustainable habits that stick.

Here at VPSM we think it's best to approach health and fitness like a marathon, not a sprint. Think about building a foundation of healthy habits you can enjoy for years.

At Victoria Park Sports Medicine, we believe it's vital to keep up to date with the latest research. It’s how We ensure our advice and treatments are evidence-based

November 22, 2024 Sara Slide

The latest research on physiotherapy and osteopathy for sports injuries highlights both modalities as effective but with distinct approaches, benefits, and evidence. Here's a summary based on recent studies:

Unlocking Recovery and performance: The Benefits of Osteopathy, Physiotherapy, Podiatry, and Acupuncture for Sports Injuries

October 30, 2024 Sara Slide

We understand the physical and emotional challenges that come with sports injuries. Our multidisciplinary approach combines the expertise of osteopathy, physiotherapy, podiatry, and acupuncture to ensure comprehensive care tailored to your individual needs. In this blog, we’ll explore the benefits of each of these therapies and how they can work together to facilitate your recovery and enhance your athletic performance.

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