injury prevention
Yoga: your flexible friend
I have a confession to make. I can’t touch my toes. Not without bending my knees, anyway…
But then again, nor can most of the runners I know. I’ve long suspected that being a runner precludes being flexible – but I recently went to a ‘yoga for runners session’, taught by Laura Denham-Jones who is not [...]
Hip moves
If you are being sidelined by knee pain, try some butt-firming moves! A recent study from Indiana University highlights a link between weak hips (particularly the gluteus medius, a stabilising muscle in the pelvic area) and the condition commonly known as ‘runner’s knee.’ Knee pain sufferers were given hip-strengthening moves twice a week for six [...]
Marathon wisdom part 2: niggles vs injury
Runners love to talk about ‘niggles’, even when they can barely limp down the stairs to get their running shoes on! But it’s not big and it’s not clever to downplay or ignore problems, and doing so increases the likelihood of them turning into full-blown injuries.
So how do you distinguish between a ‘niggle’ – something [...]
Run strong
I’m running Edinburgh Marathon this year, instead of London, which I usually take part in. And this has lulled me into a false sense of security – I keep thinking ‘it’s not for ages yet…’ when it’s actually just 4 weeks after London. So I’ve finally got my finger out and started training properly. A [...]
Marathon newbies, listen up!
If you are currently training for your first marathon (or indeed, have already completed one but feel you’ve still got a lot to learn…) I will be speaking at two forthcoming events: the London Marathon’s Meet the Experts Weekend on February 6th and 7th at the Institute of Education in London (part of two days worth [...]