Strength basics for Runners

When someone starts running, they just go out and do it, encouraged by the hype that is it a “natural” human movement. Everyone should be able to do it. They go out, hammer it for a few days, a couple of weeks or months, and eventually, a lot of them get injured and frustrated. Running, the natural panacea to all problems has caused them problems. What gives? Yes, although running may well be a normal human movement, a lot of us have spend a lot of time doing some very un-natural human things. Sitting down for 5-8 hours a day, … Continue reading

I’m injured. Should I rest to make it go away?

Injury. It’s pretty rubbish. Especially when it occurs doing exercise – something that is meant to make you healthier. There also seems to be a massive range of how quickly people get better and come back from injury. Some bounce right back and start doing their thing again, others flounder in the doldrums of injury and re-injury. Unfortunately when you do something nasty to yourself it doesn’t always take the same amount of time to heal, nor does it manifest itself in the same way, as it does in others. It’s not the same as a bit on your car … Continue reading

Motivation to do exercise.

It doesn’t come from your physio. A lot of people struggle with motivation to do something new, something that might help with their health. Normally the motivation occurs when the consequence of not doing exercise is worse than simply doing exercise. For example, when Type II diabetes has been diagnosed, when bones have become osteoporotic, or when “all of a sudden” you’re unable to get up off the floor. It is human nature to wait until something goes wrong, or to wait until something needs to be done before it actually gets acted upon. Think back to school homework. Think … Continue reading

F.I.T.T. Principle

Ever heard of the F.I.T.T. Principle? If not, read on – it’s important to anyone wanting to progress in their chosen sport. So you have a training programme but are you following the F.I.T.T. Principle? Well you should be. It’s a set of guidelines that will help you get the best out of your training and it stands for: Frequency: how often you train Intensity: the level of effort you put into each session Type: the activity you are doing Time: the duration of a session Lets expand on those a bit, so you know what you’re doing and why … Continue reading

I’m injured, will rest just make it go away?

Injury. It’s pretty rubbish. Unfortunately when you get injured, it doesn’t always take the same amount of time to heal, nor does it manifest itself in the same way as it does in others. It’s not the same as a bit on your car or bike breaking down – why is this?   Variables The injured tissue Every different type of body tissue takes different amounts of time to repair. Even in muscles, different bits of muscle take different amounts of time to heal. Have you injured a tendon, the junction between the muscle and the tendon, the main part … Continue reading

Top 5 Recovery Methods

Recovery is so important for anyone who exercises, regardless of the volume and intensity. The key is to not think that “recovery” means “complete rest”. One hour in the gym or running then sitting down on your backside for the remaining 167 hours in the week is not a good recipe for your overall health and well-being. When we say recovery, we mean things you can do to improve your chances of coming back to the activity stronger, being fitter, preventing injury, improving your overall health, and maximizing the time you do spend lifting weights/running or whatever activity you do. … Continue reading