Tag Archives: Personal Training

Making A Better Runner – Power Endurance

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As mentioned previously. A good runner will have a combination of attributes, but compromises will be made in different areas; being good at one end of the spectrum simply means that you cannot excel to the same extent at the other. The general idea is that you need to have a big engine and a light frame, a high power to weight ratio. The engine needs to be Strong – strong enough to get you up and down everything in a race, but that Strength needs to be able to be channeled quickly. Each foot strike is not a long … Continue reading →

Making A Better Runner – Power

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Last time I set out a stall saying that runners need a combination of different attributes in order to be faster, better and more efficient at what they do. There was a brief discussion about Strength, and how if you are stronger, then, within reason, you should be able to run faster. However, as mentioned, if you have monstrous strength but weigh a huge amount, that does not translate into speed. I’ll say it again, you need strength relative to weight. In answer to the un-asked question, Yes, you can become stronger without adding on slabs of muscle. This is … Continue reading →

Making A Better Runner – Strength

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When I’m running, sometimes my head switches into screensaver… amongst the blank spaces, a lot of my time is spent thinking about how to get faster, why the fast guys are indeed so fast and what are the limiting factors preventing me from getting faster and how to overcome them. There are a number of factors that come together in terms of being fast and efficient. Perhaps the overarching principle is the same as that of Ski Touring and Ski Mountaineering- Power to Weight ratio. If you are Light, brilliant. You are easier to propel uphill. However, if you lack … Continue reading →

Making A Better Runner – Introduction

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The “Making a Better Runner” Series of Blogs is not meant to be an exhaustive list of everything you should do to be a better runner. It is also not a scientifically backed up process which maps the way for everyone wishing to be better at a specific sport. We are all different, we are all organic beings. We learn, grow, recover and change at different rates. What works for some people will not work for others – or at least, it will work at a radically different rate. What this series IS, is a series of blogs based around general … Continue reading →

Hydration

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We are bombarded by the media with messages to drink water. The volume quoted by many is 2 litres per day, but that’s irrelevant here. What we’re interested in is why. Why do we need to ensure our intake of water is sufficient? To explain that, a little physiology is called for. And a word of caution – figures quoted in different sources vary, what we have included here are estimates and averages, approximations if you like. But it is a good illustration of what the percentages are like. Human bodies are approximately 70% water. Just think about that for … Continue reading →

The Importance of Vitamin D

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I often hear people saying they’re topping up their Vitamin D by spending time outdoors in the sunshine – it’s an odd thing to ask, but is it really that simple to do? Firstly, why do we need Vitamin D? strong bones – it helps to prevent against osteomalacia (softening of the bones) helping the body absorb calcium – which helps to maintain normal muscle functioning it regulates the quantities of calcium and phosphate in your body (important for healthy teeth and bones) A WebMD article titled “The Truth about Vitamin D” gives us further information on the need for Vitamin D:  “Vitamin … Continue reading →