Every month, I challenge myself to read as many useful running articles as I can, in order to find the best ones. I hope that this part of my blog will serve as a resource for those of you who are looking for additional training tips, information on running injuries and inspiration.
I am careful with which articles I include on here because I always consider the source. Sometimes, what we read on the Internet can be misleading and I have to keep that in mind when I select my Top 10 Running Articles. Did you read or write a useful article? Send me a link to check it out.
Training Tips
Why You Need a Running Coach by Meghan Kita. The truth is, you don’t need to be an elite runner to work with a running coach. Hiring a professional will help you train smarter, improve your fitness level and reach your goals. Coaches help you take all the guess work out of what you have to do to improve as a runner, so that you can just focus on doing the work required to improve. Their knowledge will help you avoid training mistakes which can lead to a decrease in performance and possible injuries.
Does Knowing Your Splits Help You Run Faster? by Alex Hutchinson. This article discusses the conclusion of a study featuring 8 runners doing a 5k time trial on the treadmill on 3 separate occasions, under 3 different conditions: no splits, feedback after each km, and feedback at all times. The overall conclusion was that when they didn’t know their splits at all, their times were slower because they had no idea how far or how fast they went. This doesn’t mean that you should always run while staring at your GPS watch, however. It’s best to train under a variety of conditions.
The Massive Fitness Trend that’s not Actually Healthy at All by Jonathan Angelilli. The idea that you must annihilate your body every time you go to the gym to workout is a recipe for disaster and injuries. It’s very important to gradually increase your intensity through periodization rather than constantly push your body beyond its limits. Recovery is very important and one must learn to understand the difference between training properly and straining. Training properly is healthy and will produce better results than straining, which can cause injuries.
5 Drills to Make you a Better Runner by Meb Keflezighi and Scott Douglas. These drills will help you improve your form as well as prevent injuries, when done properly and consistently. They are relatively simple to do and they will help you strengthen muscles that are important for running, improve your range of motion, as well as improve your brain to muscle connection when you run. Not only that, but they are fun!
Running Injuries and Dealing with Them
Shin Splints: A Simplified Clinical Classification by Dr. Pribut. This article explains what “shin splints” are and what could possibly be causing them. The term “shin splints” is often used very loosely to describe any pain in the lower leg area. Dr. Pribut goes into detail explaining the different kinds of shin splints: medial shin splints and anterior shin splints. He also offers some suggestions on what to do if you are plagued with shin splits.
Strong Hips Relieve Knee Pain by Cindy Kuzma. Studies have shown that exercises which strengthen the hips are more effective for getting rid of knee pain. On the other hand, exercises that only focus on the knee are not as effective at alleviating knee pain. Quote from the article: “British and Australian scientists analyzed 14 previous studies of people with patellofemoral pain, the official name for the ache in the front of the knee that strikes many runners. Participants whose programs included moves to build strength, endurance, and activation in the muscles around the hip had less knee pain and improved joint function when compared with those whose therapy focused on the quadriceps muscles alone.”
Plantar Fasciitis and Heel Spurs by Dr. Pribut. This article discusses the possible causes of plantar fasciitis in runners and other athletes as well as offers some ways to help treat it. In addition, it mentions other possible conditions that plantar fasciitis must be distinguished from in order to ensure that you are treating the right condition. Not all foot/heel pain is plantar fasciitis and that has to be taken into consideration.
Piriformis Syndrome: The Big Mystery or a Pain in the Behind by Dr. Pribut. Piriformis Syndrome is literally a pain in the butt. It’s very difficult to deal with and hard to diagnose, especially because there could be other issues that are causing that pain. Dr. Pribut states that the “symptoms of the piriformis muscle dysfunction may be caused by other clinical entities that include gluteus medius dysfunction, herniated or bulging disks, “sciatica”, pelvic stress fractures and other musculoskeletal problems in this area.”
Inspiration
Alissa St Laurent Wins Canadian Death Race Outright by CBC. Alissa St Laurent wins the Canadian Death Race, which is a 125km ultra-marathon through the Rocky Mountains. She becomes the only woman to beat the entire field in the race’s 15-year history, completing the gruelling course in just under 14 hours. Alissa is a true inspiration and it’s amazing to read about such a great accomplishment. It’s strong and hard-working women like her that should serve as role models to young girls.
Cancer Patient Running 1800 miles from Florida to Washington D.C. by Megan DiTrolio. Two years ago, Brian Thomas was dying of an aggressive form of skin cancer called Metastatic melanoma. Prior to his diagnosis, Brian was an avid ultra marathon runner, a teacher and a track coach. When Brian first started treatment, he was very weak and could barely walk. After the treatments started, he miraculously built up his strength. Then, Brian was crawling until he could stand and walk. Later, he started to jog and then run. Eventually, he was running 125 miles a week and was back to running ultra marathons. His 1800 mile run inspires others and gives them hope. Brian is an amazing individual and I wish him all the best.