 HELP Injury Advice
Wearing a carefully selected technical running shoe will help you to remain free from injury for much of your time. However, it's inevitable that from time to time you will be struck by some injury or other that will curtail your running to some degree.
There are a wealth of articles out there in books and magazines and on websites which advise on how best to treat common running injuries. But follow a few simple steps which our staff at Metres to Miles advise and you can limit the number of days of forced rest or visits to the physio.
10% rule
There aren't any short cuts so don't increase things too quickly when starting to jog or run and after any period of time off. The 10% rule - increasing volume by a maximum of 10 per cent each week is about right for most people. If you ignore this you run the risk of either hitting a plateau in your progression or else picking up one of the common overuse injuries associated with running.
Intensity
Be as careful with increasing the intensity of your running as you are with the increases in volume. Tempo runs, fartlek, resistance running on hills and interval work are all important elements of training, but cannot be carried out without first developing a firm foundation from a period of running at a much lower intensity. Stretch/ mobility
Most people if they are honest find stretching and mobility exercises boring and almost loathe doing them (we do). Try and stretch for a couple of minutes before a run - concentrating on all the muscle groups (start from your neck/shoulders and work down) or at least focus on any areas which you know you have a history of injuring. It's also worth carrying out some stretching after a particularly long or intense run or race.
Sports Massage
Find a reputable local sports masseur and pay them a visit from time to time and particularly if you feel things aren't quite flowing like they could be. A 45 minutes session can do the world of good and freshen your appetite for running again.
Rest
Many runners forget how important rest is and yet ask themselves why they break down with injury or else lose the appetite to run. A complete rest, easy days, cross training and active rest days where you might chose to go for a walk rather than a run, are all important ways of allowing the body to rebuild stronger for the next period of training. Give yourself adequate recovery time between runs and after hard races and you'll be the winner longer term.
Job/occupation/Lifestyle
You'll enjoy the benefits of running and training more if you adopt the right approach and find the right time for you to run. You should consider what suits YOU and your family, work and other important commitments. A good routine is essential and it's best to find a time and keep to that routine if you are to run regularly.
Shoes
Read our shoe advice and feel free to contact us at the store if you have a question about a shoe. We are here to help. You can also email any queries you have as we know our shoes and can often help.
Check out our links in the Metres to Miles Community section - if you are local to us you'll find details for the best physiotherapists and other practitioners who are all experienced in diagnosing and treating running injuries. Our resident physio, GBR International runner Jenny Blizzard is frequently in store at a weekend. Join us on Facebook and find out when she's next in store.
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