From Injury to Running 26 Miles - Sam's Recovery Journey

Around Christmas 2025, I was told I might not be able to run again because of a knee injury.

After months of physiotherapy, patience and plenty of ups and downs, I completed my first parkrun since last August. It wasn’t my quickest run, but getting round pain-free was a huge milestone.

A massive thank you to Mr Rob Gleeson, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon for seeing me so quickly and identifying the issue and Fiona at Winfield Hospital for all her support with physiotherapy throughout my recovery.

Not long after being told I might not run again, I entered the ballot for the 2027 London Marathon. At the time, I hadn’t even started running again, but I wanted something to work towards if I was to get in.

With an approximate chance of 7.5% I was luckily enough to get in to run on Saturday 24th April 2027!

I’ve always been more of a rugby player than a runner, so taking on 26.2 miles will be by far the biggest running challenge I’ve ever attempted. My longest run to date is a half marathon, so there’s still plenty of work to do.

I’ll also be raising money for Against Breast Cancer, a charity that’s close to my family’s heart. We nearly lost my Grandma to breast cancer when I was a baby, and the disease has affected other women in my family too. Every donation will help fund important research and support the work they do.

From wondering if I’d ever run again to training for the London Marathon, it’s been a journey I’m proud of. Looking forward to seeing where it takes me over the next few months.

Physiotherapy Services at Winfield Hospital

Any injury to the body can be a nuisance, but even more so if you are involved in sport. It is important to obtain immediate advice and effective treatment following injury as a delay could lengthen your recovery time.

Winfield Physiotherapy Department provides a comprehensive range of treatments. We aim to provide a complete package of care which combines a full assessment with education and self-help programmes and conventional physiotherapeutic treatments.

Contact us to find out more and to book an appointment.

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