Stop Spending Money....Start Thinking

Lets spend some time talking about running shoes. What is the best shoe to wear? How much cushioning do we actually need? Should I believe all the claims marketing companies print? Researchers specializing in sports biomechanics have actually already answered these questions.

Research has not shown the superiority of expensive shoes! In fact, in one study, wearing shoes that cost more than $95 was associated with a doubling of risk of an injury. A study that looked at 4358 runners found that those who wore shoes that cost more than $95 had a 123% greater chance of having an injury than those runners who spent less than $40 on shoes (Marti B. Relationship between running injuries and running shoes - Results of a study of 5000 participants of a 16 km run - The May 1984 Berne "Grand Prix". In: Segesser B, Pforringer W, eds. the shoe in sport. Chicago: Year Book Medical Publishers, 1989: 256-65). Now what does that mean. STOP SPENDING MONEY AND START THINKING ABOUT HOW YOU RUN. Shoes do not make the runner.

The average runner has up to an 80% chance of becoming injured in any given year DESPITE advances like thrust enhancers, gel pods, air chambers, progressive-rate polymer columns, variable-density-foam mid-sole platforms, even metal springs buried inside the heels of high tech running shoes. My advice, be frugal (and skeptical) when shopping for next pair of training shoes and buy the shoe that fits you best and lets you feel your running.

Tuesday 4/21/09 Group Run

It was raining all afternoon, but right before 6:00pm, we got a break and three determined and hardy runners started on second weekly Unionville group run. We ran a little less than four miles heading West down the Canal Bike Path. We hope to see more of you there next week.

May Perfect Form Clinic Announced

Training errors and bad running form both contribute to the high rate of injuries among recreational runners. Reports indicate that approximately 65% of runners develop an injury each year, many of which could be avoided. Learn how to increase your performance and decrease your chances of injury using the training theory of how to design an efficient plan to improve your fitness and speed as well as the proper running technique and footwear. A video will be shown on running form analysis, running drills, introduction to dynamic stretching and more. Open to runners of all levels. Wear comfortable running clothing appropriate for the weather and an old pair of running shoes for wear pattern analysis. Please include shoe size when registering.

Clinic will be held May 23, 2009, from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm at FVPT's Unionville Office for a fee of $35 per person (or $50 if registering two people). Call 860-673-0223 to register by credit card or for more information about the registration process.

First Group Run in Unionville!

Yesterday was great. We had our first group run in Unionville Center. After a light warm up jog, we stopped for some dynamic stretching and then took off down the canal bike path heading east. We followed the bubbling Farmington River, ran through a mural-painted tunnel, and onto some unpaved trail that massaged our feet and challenged our ankles. We did about 4 miles at 9 min pace this time. All in all, a great fun run. Next week we hope to see more of you out there Tuesdays at 6 pm. See http://www.therunsclub.com/ for more information.

No Bending

Do not bend at the waist. This one of the most common problem runners have. If you bend at the waist, your center of mass will move back, your shoulders will slope down, and you neck will arch forward. All signs of bad posture. You need to keep your shoulders aligned with your hips and your ankles. This keeps all of your weight in one place and takes the load off your feet.

To prove how much harder it is to run with a bend. Try jumping up and down when you are bending at the waist. Now try with a larger bend. Now try with no bend. Which is easier? Now go run!!