It all starts in the gym!
Whenever an athlete or myself has an injury, the first thing that a health professional tells me is that the solution is in the exercises and strength training. It’s one of the easier concepts for us runners to grasp, yet the hardest to be consistent in. For most runners, we spend years and years dealing with injuries that are driven by one area of weakness. It’s no shocker when we end up on the DL after running one two many miles without addressing the issue.
So what’s the solution? I am writing this blog acknowledging the fact that most of my own injuries in running have been due to weakness and lack of mobility. Like most runners I am a stubborn athlete and it has taken me years to understand the value of consistent strength training in my overall fitness regimen. One of the challenges for me with strength training was feeling anxious that what I did in the gym would take away from my running.
Although I knew that wasn’t the case, it’s still daunting some days to think you have to run 10 miles the day after hitting it hard with lunges and squats. I have been injured more times than one in the last several years. I have worked my way into great shape and then I lost the opportunity to extend that fitness due to the fact that I haven’t been consistent with the things outside of running. After years of fighting the root issue, I have decided to hire a trainer named Chuck Beckham. He owns his own gym that is extremely inclusive and is for all levels and abilities.
Having accountability is great but also having someone who cares and understands your goals makes a bigger difference in my opinion. When someone genuinely believes in what it is you are trying to accomplish, then, it’s easier to be motivated to work harder. Chuck has not only shown a great deal of support but he is also teaching me the correct form which is something I haven’t dedicated enough time on in the past. Knowing that I am not only getting the right workouts in for what my goals are for running but also knowing that I am doing the exercises correctly, gives me the confidence that I can keep improving in and out of the gym.
I know that doing strength work isn’t going to guarantee the rest of my running career will be injury free. However, I know that I will have a far greater shot at more consistent healthy days in the future because of what I am doing with Chuck. The hardest step sometimes is acknowledging there is an area of weakness you need to address in your life. I promise you that if you have the correct plan, encouragement from an expert, and a dedicated mind set, you can make leaps far greater than you ever may have imagined in running and strength training. Good luck!
*Spewak Training is currently accepting new athletes. Email contact@spewaktraining.com to set up your free 30 minute consultation meeting.*
