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

RUNNING TRAINING TECHNIQUE

With an ever increasing number of people interested and having a go at running, there is a greater need for running analysis, investment in good trainers and making sure that the right muscles groups are long and strong enough for the journey.  All these are factors help to not only improve performance but also to minimise injury and problems such as knee, shin or ankle pain. I have found this clip which gives some useful hints on good running technique together with some exercises and thought you might find it helpful too.  One point to note however is that the technique of forefoot running is associated with a faster running pace and in my experience this is the not the majority of the population who should focus on getting a heel strike when their foot hits the ground.