Among those who call themselves runners, there seems to be a shared sense of community and understanding. We smile knowingly at tales of windy 20-milers or sunrise jogs on the water. We compare black toenails and favorite Clif Gel flavors.
Unfortunately, we can also sympathize and relate to stories of injury or woes from those taking lengthy breaks from a regular running routine; spending their mornings in physiotherapy rather than on the trails. Although many people believe that injuries are a natural consequence of such a high-impact sport, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Read the rest of this entry at our partner site: HerActiveLife.com
Stretching the leg muscles improves muscle flexibility and strength, running speed, and jumping distance, according to a study from Louisiana State University (Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, October 2007).
Stretching elongates muscles and tendons. Longer tendons allow muscles to exert a greater torque on the joint to exert more power to help you lift heavier, jump higher and run faster.
However, other studies show that you should not stretch before a competition involving speed and strength (Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, April 2006). The longer the athletes stretched, the weaker they became. Prolonged stretching fatigues muscle fibers so that they contract with reduced force.
Read the rest of this entry »
Need advice? Injured? Confused? Overwhelmed? Bored? ASK LARA!
ASK LARA is a free advice column to help you with all of your running, fitness and nutrition inquiries. To ASK LARA — simply fill out the form at the conclusion of the column.
Q. What are the best yoga poses for running?
~Meridith from Brookline, MA
A. I am a big fan of yoga myself, and that’s because I believe yoga is a great accompaniment to running training. Stretching helps to return your muscles to their normal resting length. And, in my experience, many yoga poses seem to hit just the right spots. The following are just some of my favorites. Please be careful, especially if you are new to yoga. It is important to perform each pose properly. The help of an instructor or a class setting is often the best way to go.
Downward-facing dog
This pose is not just for animal-lovers. In fact, it is a fantastic pose for runners because it targets the entire length of the back of the legs, from high hamstrings down through the calves, achilles tendons, and heels.
Read the rest of this entry »
USA Track & Field, the national governing body of track and field, long-distance running and race walking, has launched a large-scale study to determine the relationship between pre-run stretching and running injuries.
Runners 13 years of age or older who run 10 or miles a week are encouraged to participate in the study. The results of the study will be published for use by the running community and other interested groups. “It is an important study in that there has not been a large, randomized, well-controlled study to show the effect of pre-run stretching on injuries,” said study coordinator Alan Roth, PhD.
Read the rest of this entry »
The following article was written by TFS guest contributor Dr. Larry Robinson. For more about Dr. Robinson, check out the “About Dr. Robinson” section at the conclusion of the article.
1. Use the summer weather to increase your outdoor activity:
“From running and baseball games in the park to weekend getaways hiking, biking and canoeing, summer’s the perfect time to get in shape without a daily trip to the gym,” says Dr. Robinson. “Use the season to start a new sport you’ve always been interested in that can carry you through the holidays, New Year’s resolutions and colder weather.”
Of course check with your physician first if you have any physical concerns, and always start off easy. If you’re prone to heat stroke or exhaustion, take advantage of dusk and dawn to complete your fitness activity. And, as always, drink plenty of water and don’t forget the sunscreen for daytime outdoor activities.
Read the rest of this entry »
The term “runner’s knee” refers to an inflammation of the tendon, the (ITB), that is located on the outside of the thigh. As injury to this tendon often results from overuse of the knees, and runner’s rely on their knees to function within their sport, the title “runner’s knee” is quite appropriate. The name is, however, deceptively exclusive as runner’s knee describes an ailment common among individuals who are active in a spectrum of activities such as biking, walking, or jumping.
As mentioned above, the inflammation of the ITB can be a result of overuse or overstretching of the tendon in any activity that requires repeated knee bending. Misalignment is also a factor in the injury. If a bone is out of it’s correct position, then the excess stress being placed elsewhere can result in the pulling and inflammation of the ITB. The tendon can also undergo stress because of weak thigh muscles or a direct injury to the knee such as a fall or a blow. Runners with flat feet, or fallen arches, often have knee problems as the ITB is forced to stretch in order to compensate for the missing arch.
Read the rest of this entry »
I remember singing a rather cheesy song during my grade school P.E. class: as we bent down to touch our toes, our teacher made us sing – in a cacophonous tone - “s-t-r-e-t-c-h rubberband!”
I used to giggle when we sang this song, but I wasn’t giggling a few years later after I struggled through a string of running injuries largely due to negligent stretching and poor flexibility.
Go ahead … ask yourself … “How many IT-band flare-ups you could have prevented if only you would have taken an extra five minutes to stretch?”
While many athletes consider aerobic exercise, strength training, and nutrition as three critical components to establishing a balanced fitness routine, they often disregard the importance of flexibility training.
Read the rest of this entry »
All athletes have a dark, furtive, and silent fear of getting injured. It haunts all athletes; from professionals like Meb Keflezighi who was forced to drop out of last April’s Flora London Marathon at mile 16, to casual runners like myself.
Recently, I was sidelined with tendonitis in my right hip a month before I was to participate in my first half marathon.
When I told my sister, she instantly identified with my anguish by saying “So, it must be like going to write a big term paper and having your computer break down the night before it’s due.” Exactly.
When your body seemingly and unexpectedly fails you, you are frustrated, confused, and scared. Fortunately, you can minimize your worries and expedite your healing by educating yourself on the potential pitfalls of regular training, proper care for your athletic body, and ways to prevent such injuries.
Read the rest of this entry »
Jim Fortner is a weekly, guest contributor. Make sure to also check out his own personal running and advice site: “Jim2’s Running Page”.
Stride length should not be increased by reaching your foot forward. That only moves your foot plant point in front of your center of gravity and causes a braking action, slows you down and adds to injury-causing stresses. The desired ways to increase stride length are to increase the time your foot is planted on the ground, thus delaying the push-off point, and a stronger push-off, which will increase forward momentum.
I believe there are four primary ways to do this. One is to increase leg strength, which Norman suggested and you have explained probably isn’t what’s holding you back. The other three ways are through improving running form, speed work and stretching.
Running form - The key here is to keep your center of gravity forward, especially your hips.
Read the rest of this entry »
Stretching before and after running (and any physical activity) is an important aspect of preventing injuries. Stretching can also help with muscle recovery, optimizing muscle gains and increasing flexibility. There are two general types of stretching that can lead to these benefits: active and dynamic.
Active stretching (as seen above), also known as static stretching, entails stretching a muscle to an elongated position and holding that stretch for a certain amount of time. This is the most common type of stretching that most of us have been taught from a young age. Although there is some debate about the effective of active stretching, Sports Fitness Advisor states:
“This debate relates to an acute bout of static stretching prior to exercise. It is still considered important and beneficial to athletes away from competition to to bring about a long-term increase in range of motion.”
© 2006-2008 The Final Sprint, LLC | Privacy Policy | Design by The Blog Studio
The Final Sprint, LLC is owned and operated by Adam Jacobs
The Final Sprint