We all love to run….probably not but most of us do it and end up with problems.
Running is one of the most essential things we need to be able to do, so how come to so many struggle with it?
Somehow the default idea for weightloss is to start running. It does not require much gear and it is easy to just go out and run.
I have used running in my training since I was a kid playing football and ice-hockey. All training was very specific to make me a better player in those sports.
Later I started with morning runs for many years before going to work. My main motivation was to lose weight but nobody told it was an ineffective way to actually get fitter.
Spending hours on running is good if you want to get good at running but as we grow older the running might be counter beneficial.
The main reason for this is that only running can lead to loss of muscle which is the opposite of what anyone needs. Losing muscle reduces the body’s ability to metabolise glucose and fat and is one of the key markers for poor health.
Pain and stiffness is another main factor that eventually stops people from running and then they most likely have to deal with those issues for the rest of their lives.
I am continually surprised that so many run with pain in their knees, hips or feet and continue to run. Yet, nobody would think this way, cranking on more weights and speed, if they hurt their back.
If you are aiming to win the olympic gold it might be worth doing those sacrifices but for longevity and health, having a good strategy would help out a lot.
Almost three years ago I got to talk to Chris Hinshaw, who is a former iron man athlete and at the time the endurance coach to Rich Froning, Mat Fraser, Katrin Davidsdottir and Brook Wells to name a few.
Chris did a lot of running of course and it destroyed his body. At the age of 42 he could barely get out of bed. Shouldn’t he be fit?
He was in pretty much pain and agony for years until he one day started with CrossFit. That suddenly gave back his health and he felt enormously grateful for this and a couple of years later he left his high paying corporate job to become a coach in the CrossFit community.
He saw how many were struggling with their running and it became his calling to get people to understand running and recovery in a better way.
Here some key things to think about:
- Running short runs sub 20-30 min often is more beneficial than long runs.
- If you have pain in anyway it is the body’s way of saying you are doing something wrong.
- Warm up properly before running and intentionally try to improve your mobility.
- Think about your running technique and work on improving it.
- Keep track of your muscle mass. Don’t lose it.
- Enjoy your running and what you do and be mindful about how good it feels.
- Recovery is essential and the better you know your bodies recovery the better you will perform over time and avoid injuries.
- If you want to compete in running you should do this with a coach and work with a very detailed plan on your pursuits.
We should be able to run when you are 90 so don’t have to burn our boats for a short term gain in a distance the body does not care about.
Here is a video of what type of mobility to do for running