As a runner, it’s only practical to take good care of your feet. After all, they are the foundation of every stride you take. Ignore them and they will definitely fail you on the running track.
After all, the feet have the power to marking running enjoyable—or a march through hell.
Yet in most cases, not until runners suffer from pain, swelling, blisters, or worse, serious injury that we start paying attention to our feet, which is a sad truth.
So if you are serious about keeping your feet healthy and happy, you need to start giving them a little bit of attention before they become a problem.
So if you love running but your feet are killing you, here is what you need to do.
Today I’m sharing with you some of the simple stuff I do to take care of my feet. I admit. I’m not a podiatrist. Actually, I’m not an “official” expert on any subject. So what I’m sharing here is the result of my own research and experience. Take it with a grain of salt.
In fact, I encourage you to do your own research, and find what works the best for you. And when you do, please share with us your findings.
In the meantime, here is what works for me.
To be honest, I have never been a big fan of post-run stretching.
The moment I finished a run, I would immediately jump into the shower, and promise myself that I will stretch next time. But we all know that never happens. We just get into the habit of putting...
Core training is an essential ingredient in any training program—whether you are just a recreational runner looking to achieve a ripped midsection or a serious athlete on the quest to improve athletic performance and avoid injury.
Whatever your fitness goals are, the core cannot be ignored, period.
Why the core?
The core,...
Can you run a 10K without breaking a sweat but not touch your toes even if your life depended on it? Well, don’t worry, you are not alone. Scores of runners suffer from flexibility issues. In fact that’s a part of the training process.
Running by definition leaves the telltale signs of tight lower back, gluteus, quads, hamstrings and calves. And if you don’t work diligently on working on these areas, they can lead to muscles imbalances, injuries and poor performance.
Well, fret no more.
Yoga is the practice you need to keep your body healthy and run injury-free for the long haul. It is the perfect antidote.
In today’s post I’m going to spill the beans on one of the most important and yet often ignored aspects of running: Proper recovery. This piece of the training puzzle is key whether you are beginner runner or an elite athlete.
See, the truth is running, sooner or later will take a toll on your body and mind.
Therefore, you NEED a multitude of ways to help you recover properly. Otherwise, you will be risking injuries and painful burnouts.
How much recovery runners needs?
As a runner, the amount of recovery you need depends on a variety of factors, including your own fitness level, the intensity and volume of your runs and your own experience.
For example, a beginner runner may need more recovery between relatively easy runs than an elite marathoner who runs 60+ miles per week.
So how can you ensure proper recovery? Well read on to discover all the answers you seek.
Running is one of the best cardiovascular exercises that there is. It’s a fast way to shed those extra pounds for good and help you tone your body—especially your legs.
Nevertheless, if you don’t balance your running with the right cross training strength program, you will, over time, develop muscle imbalances, which can compromise your performance and lead to pain and injury.
So do you think that you have any muscle imbalances? Spoiler’s alerts: of course—especially if you are a runner. And now it’s time for you to address the issue for good.
You ready?
Yoga. Yoooga. Yooooooga.
As you can see, yoga is one of my favorite activities in the world. I love it so much, and it has changed me on so many levels—body, mind, and soul (this piece is mainly concerned with the body aspect, so don’t stop reading yet if you are not into the psychological and spiritual stuff).
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Image Credit - Yogic Photos by Christine through Flickr
Do Yoga, Please!
It’s a profound practice, and if you haven’t yet caught the bug, then you should. And I hope that by the end of this post, you will at least consider the recovery routine I outlined below. Otherwise, you are missing out.
There is nothing worse than those stabbing, crippling stitches that hit below the ribcage that strikes just as you are breaking into your running pace. Urghhhhh!!!!
In fact, running with those painful side stomach cramps can be a march through hell.
Even now, after years on the running track, I still...
Runners are some of the most driven and dynamic of all athletes, but that doesn’t mean they can’t reap the benefits of yoga.
In fact, a daily yoga routine can help you increase strength and stamina in all major muscle group, including vital running muscles, such the calves, quadriceps, glutes,...
Just a couple of years ago I had no idea what foam rolling is, but after I made the discovery by doing a P90X program—Tony Horton Rocks!—my whole approach to stretching, mobility and recovery work has changed.
Foam rolling is a self-massaging technique that can help you loosen up tender and stiff muscles and keeps the fascia—which is the connective tissue surrounding every muscle in your body—happy and loose.
This may sound complicated and intimidating.
But fret no more.
By the end of this post, you will learn all you need to learn about the proper foam-rolling techniques and exercises that will help you reach common tight spots in your body as well as offer you effective strategies to help you roll your way to relief.