Are you a runner that has dealt with your share of iliotibial (IT) band or knee problems? Are you a new or veteran runner who would like to avoid those problems? Evidence suggests that many of these problems can be overcome by addressing a key weakness that numerous runners exhibit: weak hips.* Running is an activity that takes place primarily in the sagittal plane—meaning … [Read more...] about Overcoming Dropped Hips for Better Running Form
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The Pre-Race Warmup for Running Events
You’ve put in the training and now you’re ready to toe the starting line for that running event. But one last question remains in your mind: how long should my warmup be? This is an excellent question that rightly assumes that some sort of warmup will be important to getting the most out of your race. The warmup plays an important role in injury prevention and readies the … [Read more...] about The Pre-Race Warmup for Running Events
Why and What’s the Reason For?
A Purpose for Every Workout This article is not about semantics; it is about how to improve athletic performance through effective race preparation. But I want to start by considering the difference between a workout and training. Defined as “a session of vigorous physical exercise,” a workout is an important element of training. Yet training—defined as “a course of … [Read more...] about Why and What’s the Reason For?
Avoid the Dead-End Training Zone, Part 2
In a previous article, I discussed a common pitfall many motivated athletes fall into. Namely, they fail to take prescribed easy or low intensity workouts seriously, letting those workouts morph into not-so-easy sessions that take them into a counterproductive “dead-end training zone.” In this article, I sketch out a scenario to illustrate in more specific terms the concept of … [Read more...] about Avoid the Dead-End Training Zone, Part 2
Avoid the Dead-End Training Zone
Let’s face it. Most athletes understand what it takes to succeed. It’s no secret, after all, that to advance your race readiness, you must put in substantial amounts of hard work. Yet don’t let this focus on hard work blind you to the crucial role easy days play in any training program. It is important to distinguish between working hard during key training sessions and … [Read more...] about Avoid the Dead-End Training Zone