Hamstring Tear

Long-time runners suffer from injuries in the hamstring, hip, and buttock area more than beginners. Many of us have seen sprinters pull up suddenly with a hamstring tear. That doesn’t happen very often to distance runners. Our hamstring problems are low-grade, chronic microtears that accumulate over time and usually because of neglect. Most of these injuries are the result of poor flexibility in these areas, and veteran runners who don’t have good stretching habits are notoriously tight from knee to butt. But beware of hamstring problems if your job involves long periods of sitting. Sitting for long periods can shorten your hamstrings and the surrounding muscles and tendons. Try not to sit for more than an hour at a time. In your runs, ease into your normal pace to give the large muscles along the back of your legs a chance to warm up.