Runner beats injury

The 29-year-old suffered the grade 2-3 tear last September and was running again in December.

‘I was back down to six-minute kilometres, which was pretty devastating for me, but I worked hard to get 4.5-minute kilometres,’ Alliss said.

‘I worked out a different running technique and how to strengthen muscles through yoga and individual strength exercises.’

After scraping through the qualifying rounds, Alliss finished 20th in the 2km beach run at the national championships.

‘I was happy with that because it was the biggest group of open female runners they’ve ever had. Next year I’m aiming to get in the top 10-15,’ she said.

The North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club member said she also altered her diet to recover from the hamstring injury.

‘I changed my diet around so rather than just trying not to eat as much, I saw a dietician who gave me ideas on what to eat and when to eat it,’ she said.

‘I eat high quality proteins, vegetables and good sources of carbohydrates.

‘I’m the strongest I’ve ever been.’

Alliss, an English and health teacher at St Norbet College, finished 3rd in April’s Great Western Sand Storm event at Swanbourne beach.