Strength training for running – a waste of time?

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Strength training for running is a bit of a funny subject amongst runners. Some people say that the best training for running is running – which, to a point is true, but there are some processes which will help you run further, faster and more efficiently which you cannot improve just by pounding long miles. The main “reason” for not doing weight training (if we, for a moment , forget about downright laziness) is the somewhat long in the tooth “But I don’t want to put on muscle! – it will increase my weight, and that will make me slower” … Continue reading →

Olympic Dreams for Andy Turner and Ice Climbing

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It’s amazing to think that 18 months ago Tim and I were working at the 2012 London Olympics, and now we’re in the midst of the 2014 Winter Olympics. We’re having a great time watching the winter sports over in Sochi, and even more exciting, one of our regular clients is on his way to Russia right now. Andy Turner set up the Great Britain Ice Climbing Team, and as well as climbing for the team he also coaches other climbers. We saw Andy on Tuesday for his final session of soft tissue therapy before flying out to Sochi. Over in … Continue reading →

University – the 2nd year continues

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My degree in Physiotherapy continues on apace. The first semester of year 2 was very crowded with a lot of specific learning on the Spine, Cardio-Respiratory and Neurological physiotherapy, with only 3, 4 and 4 weeks worth of teaching time given over to each. All that cumulated in exams and a written assignment, which all collided in the first couple of weeks of January. I even missed a race as I thought it was probably a better idea to stay at home and revise the day before one of the exams, rather than batter my way across 22 miles of … Continue reading →

Global Therapies – taking part in research

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Last week we were both over in Salford University, taking part in a bit of research about barefoot running. There is a piece of research being done about whether traditional running training or barefoot training has more of an effect on running economy. I thought it sounded pretty interesting. I don’t really have much of an opinion either way, which is good as that is what the research is meant to find out. There is a lot of information and disinformation out there about barefoot running and how good, or not, it might be for runners, both in terms of … Continue reading →

Podcasts

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Having to commute to and from a city in the dark was something I thought I had left behind when we became self-employed and left London for the somewhat greener climes of Glossop. Lately, however, that has changed as I am off into Salford for a few days a week to continue my Physiotherapy degree. We have finished all the physiology of movement now, which I found pretty straightforward, having covered virtually all of it as a Sports and Remedial Massage therapist, and now we are onto much more pathological things. Neurological and Cardio-respiratory physiotherapy. These are a long way … Continue reading →

Physiotherapy Year 2

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Goodness. Doesn’t time fly when you’re having fun? We are now into the 4th teaching week of semester 1 in my second year at Salford University studying Physiotherapy. The first three weeks passed in a flurry of information and work on pathologies and treatment of the spine, and we are already onto the somewhat complex subject of neurology. No time to sit back and take it easy, as once that is done, we are straight into a few weeks of cardio-respiratory physio taking me up to Christmas, and then exams in the New Year on all of the subjects above. The pace has certainly become a … Continue reading →