Biggest Mistakes That Non Professional Runners Make - You're Probably Doing At Least One!
Introduction
With conviction I can say that, running has changed my life for the better through the people I have met, the challenges i have overcome & the community i'm apart of. It has truly shown that the human body is capable of more than we think. With all of these positives come the negatives which i'm going to highlight in this blog. The most common mistakes i see recreational runners make. P.S this will be short one. So don't blink or you'll miss it!
Avoiding Strength & Plyo Training
One of the most crucial aspects of running is to be able to prevent injuries through ironing out muscular imbalances. As we all know running is a repetitive exercise and causes a lot of stress on the joints & tendons. Want to avoid injuries? Lift those damn weights! Don't skip leg day! Train like a runner!
Comparison - Focusing On Others
Too many people are obsessing over what times that others are achieveing rather remembering they have themselves to focus on. We're all dealt with different capabilities. There are rarely two runners who have the same aerobic conditioning. The main point is to enjoy it! After all it is just a hobby!
Incorrect Footwear
Incorrect footwear coupled with improper form over a long enough time period will eventually cause problems. A cushioned shoe should be the weapon of choice for most recreational runners. Multiples pairs also help to tackle this. Here's my blog on "Why multiple pairs are necessary"
Running Too Fast Too Often
Every runner knows the feeling of wanting to beat their previous time that they acheived but infact it's actually counter productive to their progress. Slowing down will help you to build your aerobic base which is a key component to increase your speed. Remember the majority of your runs should be done at a conversational pace.
Nutrition, Hydration & Recovery
Getting out there on road is fun for sure, but it's about when you're not on the road what you do to fuel those runs. Consumimg whole foods, adequate sleep, rest days & restoring electrolytes are all important factors that are overlooked far too often. As runner you need more salt in your diet than a regular person.
Avoiding Speed Work
Whilst long slow easy runs increase your fitness, there's also another side which a lot runners miss out. This could be things like hill sprints, interval training, fartlek workouts, HIIT training & many more. The point of all this is to push your heart rate to an uncomfortable place which will increase your anaerobic threshold.
Training Through Injuries
I'll hold my handups & say i'm guilty of this in the past. However training through of with injuries will only hinder your progress in the long term. This is why strength training is so important that you bulletproof yourself against these common injuries.
Not Eating Enough Calories
As runners we burn an insane amount of calories during our long distance efforts, which can make it hard to keep on top of. Unfortunately, if you under consume too many calories it will begin to weaken your bones. Hence why old runners always complain about their knees feeling brittle.
Buying Expensive Gear
We've all heard the phrase "All the gear & no idea " that because it's a common thing to see in most sports. People spend a fortune on gear trying to look cool for others but haven't got the basics down. Expensive products may enhance your experience but they certainly don't make you better a runner.
Not Focusing On The Basics
Running form, breathing, footstrike pattern etc. are the foundation your running. Spending time studying these will accelerate your IQ on running by a mile. Once you realise what you're doing wrong you can go ahead & focus on more advanced techniques once you've corrected your current ones.
Outro
To this close this out i've began to take a more laid back approach to running, which has made it way more enjoyable to take part in. I think others can sense it too! If your looking to get involved in a run crew & be involved a community click here