LESS THAN 2 WEEKS TIL THE BRISTOL HALF MARATHON

.....ARE YOU READY??!!

If you're having any last minute aches and pains and would like some advice on what to do, don't hesitate to email and I'll be happy to do my best to allay your fears!!

NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS, SPORTING GOALS

Happy New Year! The gym is packed and it seems, more that ever, that people are on a health drive.

What about you? What are your goals for 2009 - to lose weight and get fit, start walking, running, consider a 5k, enter a marathon, beat last year's time?

Whatever your chosen goal, I wish you the best of luck with it. My one word of advice would be, to make sure nothing gets in the way of you achieving your goal, why not consider having your trainers, running, muscle length and strengths looked at before you get going. Think of it as an MOT aimed at finding out and fixing something before it becomes unroadworthy! We do it for our cars, why not our bodies?

Making sure you have the right technique, kit and muscle activation going on is essential to minimise injury.

A quick check list of things to look at before contacting a physio for your MOT might be to work out how many miles your trainers have done, have they done as much as they're expected to do already? Do they still offer your feet enough support? Next try hopping, squatting, stepping up on a box. Does one leg fatigue more than the other? Is one leg tighter than the other when you stretch? Do you get any aches and pains either during or after you've run?

If any of your answers suggest you might have some work to do or need some help, seek the professionals. A good running shop for trainers is essential. Appropriate exercises to strengthen and lengthen muscles will make a world of difference and if you've got even the smallest ache make sure you get it seen to before you start running. It's only likely to get worse!

For more information about running painfree and/or to book you January MOT email enquiries@thephysiplace.com. If it's stretches you're after, check out the stretches in my earlier blog.


Hope it all goes well and have a great break.

BRISTOL HALF FAST APPROACHING - TIME FOR A SPORTS MASSAGE?

Not long to go now until the Bristol Half. Excellent!

Are you ready?

I hope by now you've managed to get a few long runs done without too many problems? How's your time - are you on target?
How are your muscles coping with the additional mileage - any new aches and pains?

Key things to consider:
Are you doing enough stretching? (see my earlier blog on stretching)
Are you eating and drinking enough of the right kind of food and fluid for long distance runnning?

Finally, have you ever considered having a sports massage? A friend of mine the other day was telling me how important it is to be kind to ourselves!! From my own experience with training I can't say that this thought comes into my head very often, being kind to myself really doesn't get the results I'm looking for.....however, a sports massage does tick that box and is also a great way of getting a bit more flexibility into our muscles.

Why not book one and see?

(For sports massage and/or physiotherapy at The Physio Place, Bristol call 07984203698)

Running the Bristol Half Marathon? How's your running training going?

I hope your training is proving fruitful and you're pleased with your performance and progress. But if not and you're either struggling or suffering why not get some help? I have had several people who have come for treatment recently with complaints of shin, heel and knee pain, calf and hamstring problems, low back and buttock pain. Sound familiar?

If it does and having tried everything you know to make the difference but still don't seem to be making the grade why not email me with the details of your aches/injuries and I'll happily give you some free advice (jemma@thephysioplace.com)

Bristol Half Marathon 2008

Hats off to all of you who are planning on running the Bristol Half Marathon this year.

I hope your training is going well and you're not experiencing too many aches and pains. If you are now is the time to get them sorted out before the mileage increases or time starts to get any closer.

Whatever your problem - first of all consider your trainers - is there enough support? Have they done more than their expected mileage? I've found over the years of treating sports injuries that trainers are a fairly consistent contributor to aches and pains. Are yours? Several of the local running shops in Bristol will give discounts for people who belong to gyms or sports clubs so its worth asking.

Next question is - are you doing enough stretches pre and post run? If not and you're not sure what you should be doing, take a look at my earlier blog on stretching exercises - beautifully demonstrated! :-)

If you have had an injury or back pain etc in the past you may have some weaker muscle groups. This is worth considering as problems with muscle imbalance often become apparent when assessing runners. If you're not sure, get a physiotherapist to assess you and find out so you know what to work on.

Finally, for anyone who might still want some help I am going to be doing some running assessment evenings at Next Generation Health Club, Westbury-on-Trym over the next couple of weeks. If you're interested in having your running assessed, trainers and muscle lengths and strengths looked at and some advice and exercises let me know. This will take 20 minutes and cost £10. Remember to come in your kit and bring your trainers! For more information and to make contact log onto www.thephysiplace.com