To Run or Not to Run

As we roll into nicer weather here in Chicago, I see more people out jogging. Running seems to be something of a fault line in the fitness world, I've talked to cardio kings and queens who use running exclusively as their method of exercise, but will give their workouts variety by occasionally using the elliptical to supplement their daily treadmill fix. What one might call the majority typically respond that they do run, but they don't enjoy it. I've had clients flat out refuse to run, not because of injury, simply out of distaste.

At Chicago Fitness Training, I take the position that running is a basic human movement. There are only so many ways that the human body will naturally move; and each will improve the coordination, endurance, strength, and flexibility of a number of parts of the human movement system. Like other movement patterns, it should be trained to reinforce proper technique and eliminate inefficiency. Any form of exercise that is enjoyed and can be done safely should be embraced (But remember, no single exercise should comprise your entire training regiment). If you don't like running, train it anyways. You might be surprised to find that by training it correctly, it will become tolerable and feel much easier.

For those of you that experience pain and discomfort (beyond typical muscle soreness) during or after a run, remember; pain is a signal from your body that it is being damaged. Do not disregard it. Learn from it. Pain is telling you that your form and technique are incorrect. Improper movement leads to compensation, synergistic dominance, altered joint mechanics, and ultimately, to injury. Do not presume that you are running correctly, work on the techniques. The better you become, the easier it will be, and the faster and farther you will be able to run. It can be very difficult to diagnose what you are doing incorrectly; ask someone (friend or trainer) to watch you run. Better yet, have them record video of you running. Use a track or field, and run toward them from fifty yards away and have them continue to film as you run past them for another fifty yards. Contact me (mark@chifittraining.com) if you would like help with film breakdown.

Running is another form of exercise that many people tend to repeat exactly, e.g., "Every other day, I run three miles on the treadmill at 7.5 mph." BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THAT WAY. In fact, doing a variety of different runs has much greater benefits for your body. Windsprints, hills, obstacle courses, and hurdles are great examples of runs that are anything but the slow and steady drudgery that people subject themselves to on a treadmill. Or add a half mile in at the end of each of your circuits. Just keep in mind that your technique is of the utmost importance. If you're going to train something, train it right!