RUNNING INJURY PREVENTION STRATEGIES

Running and walking path better traveled on snowshoes. Taken by PKSenagore. February 2019. All rights reserved.

ENCOURAGED BY EARNED RUNS TO IMPLEMENT NOW! “6 Injury Prevention Strategies That Work and Don’t Work” by Jason Fitzgerald, published by competitor.running.com.  is a ‘must’ read for those training now for a spring endurance event.
 
Fitzgerald begins the article identifying the reason for taking precautions to avoid injury related  to running.  “The annual injury rate among runners can be as high as 75% depending on the source” he states.  An even higher rate than that reported by contact sports, like football, Fitzgerald explains.
 
If you’re reading this article it is likely that at some point you’ve been sidelined by discomfort, had to stop training, and experienced being inactive while friends pushed forward. It’s possible you’ve had to forgo participating in an important event for this reason
 
Runners who have not yet been injured may think that it won’t happen to them. 
 
But it does happen frequently enough, that if your runner friends were queried, about 75% would likely admit to forced downtime related to injury.  Thus, Fitzgerald’s advice that whether a “new or veteran runner, healthy or currently struggling with an injury, now is the time to implement the strategies that will help you run consistently in the future.”
 
What works? There is information in the article on how “consistency”, “variability”, and paying  attention to small training details is effective. 
 
What doesn’t work? Reading the full article may reveal that your current practices are not helping in this area. Big hint: JUST RUNNING.  If the only routines scheduled on your training program involve “just” running or walking, especially at a continuous speed on level ground, you’re in need of a intervention!
 
Earned Runs training plans for runners and walkers include stretching, mobility, foam rolling, and strength sessions for exactly the injury prevention reasons identified in the Fitzgerald article.
 
Earned Runs also promotes consistent year-round training to maintain fitness by suggesting seasonal “challenges” that don’t always aim to prepare for competitions but that introduce variety into physical fitness activities. And all of the Earned Runs activities do not require paying a registration fee for participation in an organized event.  The activities are intended to be custom-designed personal or small events.
 
Earned Runs RESOURCES and training plans encourage and support safe exercise and competition.  If you need help implementing the practices outlined by Jason Fitzgerald to avoid injury, check out the ER website.  
 
RUN & MOVE HAPPY!
 
 NOTE: This article will be posted on the RESOURCES page
 
According to his Instagram page, Jason Fitzgerald is a “USATF running coach, 2017’s Men’s Running’s Influencer of the Year, and founder of Strength Running. I help runners get fast & stay healthy.”
 
https://running.pocketoutdoormedia.com/injury-prevention-strategies-for-runners_176238
 
https://www.instagram.com/jasonfitz1/