Laura – from calf strain to a 100-mile ultra marathon
15 September 2026Earlier this year, Laura came to see Luke Denham, Clinic Lead Practitioner at the Hub, after developing a low-grade calf strain. Although the injury itself was relatively low-level, it was affecting her ability to run at an important point in her training.
Laura was working towards a significant endurance challenge, so the priority was not simply to settle the symptoms. She needed to return to running safely and confidently, then rebuild enough strength and capacity in the calf to cope with the distances ahead.
During Laura’s initial appointment, Luke carried out a detailed assessment before providing treatment, rehabilitation exercises and advice around managing her training load. The early plan focused on settling the calf, restoring strength and gradually increasing what it could tolerate as she returned to running.
Building back towards longer runs
As Laura progressed, her rehabilitation needed to keep pace with her training. Rather than jumping straight back to her previous mileage, the focus was on gradually increasing running volume while continuing the exercises that were helping to rebuild strength and confidence.
Continuing care with Tom
Due to practitioner availability, Laura’s ongoing care was handed over to Tom Boggon, Senior Sports Therapist and running specialist at the Hub. Tom reviewed how she was progressing and built on the work Luke had already started, allowing her rehabilitation to continue without losing momentum.
Tom continued to support Laura with hands-on soft tissue treatment and massage, alongside progressive rehabilitation exercises and practical advice around training load and exercise modification. As her calf became stronger and her symptoms settled, the focus shifted towards preparing it for more running and, importantly, longer distances.
From pain free to 100 miles
Laura made positive progress over the course of four sessions. She became pain free and returned to regular running, gradually building up to a series of long training runs without significant problems. Consistent rehabilitation and careful management of her training load helped her confidence grow as the mileage increased.
At the end of July, that progress culminated in a huge personal milestone: Laura successfully completed a 100-mile ultra marathon. What began as a relatively small calf injury had arrived at a potentially disruptive point in her training, but with progressive rehabilitation and the right support around her running load, she was able to get back on track and reach her endurance goal.
What Laura’s story shows
Laura’s Success Story is a useful reminder that returning from a running injury is not only about becoming pain free. When the goal involves longer distances, rehabilitation also needs to build progressively alongside training so that strength, running volume and confidence can increase together.
It also shows the benefit of practitioners working collaboratively. Luke and Tom were able to hand Laura’s care over smoothly and keep the same overall goal in view, while Tom’s running-specific experience supported the later stages of her return to higher mileage.
Has an injury interrupted your running?
If a calf injury or another pain is making it difficult to train as you normally would, a proper assessment can help you understand what needs to change and how to build back up sensibly. Our team can help with treatment where appropriate, progressive rehabilitation and practical advice around exercise and training load.
