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5 Surefire Ways to Prolong Your Running Career With Bodyweight Exercises!

By Stevey McGeown
Sep 25, 2008
If you're interested in being a runner long-term, (and there's no reason why you can't be), then you're reading the right article. Running offers significant physical health benefits including a lean body, and tremendous reserves of stamina and endurance. It calms the mind and helps to improve focus, determination and self-belief, as you become a better and better runner.

However, like all sports it can have its drawbacks and thats what this article addresses. In a nutshell to maximise your injury free running career, we recommend you consider the following running tips, and build the ones that you're not using into your training arsenal, in particular bodyweight exercises.

1. run short and often - running can place a lot of stress on the body, and for many of it will be more effective to train by running shorter distances more often, and then to mix in one or two longer runs per week at the most,

2. stretch before and after - perform a thorough stretching routine both before you begin to run, and the cool down with the same. Ideally, 5 - 10 minutes. Some of the best runners stretches include the down dog, the bridge and of course your preferred stretches for hamstrings and quads,

3. pay attention to how you run - as run pay attention. You want to be touching the ground pretty lightly as you run. It may take a while but if you watch really good runners either at your local race meet, or even on TV you'll notice that they are efficiency in motion. This is how you will become when you pay attention to how you look and feel when you run,

4. practise bodyweight exercises, especially the hindu squat, the bridge and the wall chair - these three exercises from the bodyweight exercises stable are sensational for runners, and promote strength, flexibility and proper alignment,

5. if you do experience any pain apply ice and rest - this is critical. Don't play the martyr and suffer. Life at end of the day is a marathon event, not a sprint. And remember, many of the typical injuries sustained by runners come from either overtraining ie running too far, too often and/ or overtight muscles. So mix your training up with the above bodyweight exercises that have been proven to enhance strength, stamina and flexibility.

The most important part in any training regime is that you enjoy it. So get a training buddy, set a few short and long range goals, and remember to add the spice of variety to what you do. Happy running Forrest! (ie Forrest Gump).
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