Enjoy Running Without The Injuries
Running is a fantastic way to promote weight loss, fitness and endurance.
It’s also an outstanding cardiovascular booster that can help those in shape stay that way. Unfortunately, it can also be pretty hard on the body whether you choose to run outdoors and take in the scenery or you use a treadmill in a gym or the comfort of your own home. Injuries, sometimes rather serious ones, can plague runners and keep them from doing what they love best.
How can you enjoy the benefits of running without the potential injury pitfalls?
There are several things runners can do to promote health and avoid injuries. One of the smartest lies in creating a running schedule that takes the body and its need to recover into account. Here’s how to put this type of scheduling into action:
1. Consider the length of your typical run – Make sure you know the distance you go during your routine run, be it 1 mile or 20.
2. Grab a calendar and map out a six-week plan. For the first five weeks of the plan, aim to run your normal distance. On week 6, take that distance and cut it in half for the entire week. So if you normally run 10 miles a day, just run 5 a day in week six. This “rest” period enables you to keep running in your exercise routine while still affording a body a chance to recover a bit from the previous five weeks of more strenuous activity.
3. Rinse and repeat while putting other injury-sparing measures into place.
Other Tips for Running Injury Free
• Stretching matters – Yes, this is an oldie, but a goodie. Be sure to take the time to properly warm up before each run. Once you’re warmed up, you can start to stretch lightly. Try and avoid stretching cold muscles. Don’t forget to cool down after your run. This is another great time to stretch out the muscles. Doing so can help you avoid injuries that might sideline future runs.
• Wear the right shoes – It’s imperative to have a solid pair of running shoes before you hit the pavement. If running is a passion, or you think it will become so, make sure to get higher quality shoes that are especially designed for runners.
• Work with a trainer – If you’re new to running or just want to enhance your performance when you do, getting advice from a trainer is a smart way to go. Trainers can help you set up and execute a plan that increases your fitness level while making sure injuries are avoided.
Our associate trainer, Craig Schoenbaum, has extensive experience training for and coaching others in the subtleties and nuances of distance running. Craig has competed in multiple Los Angeles Marathons as well as triathlon events all around the world. He has the skills necessary to help you develop strategies to run as often as you’d like while staying injury-free and having more fun in the process.
Give Craig a call at (323) 257-8853 when you’re ready to refine your skills.
