Runners, athletes and people in general who are dedicated to getting better and running faster are always looking for ways to improve their health & performance. Regardless of your level of commitment, dedication to training and available time, there are some things that you can do not only to improve your running performance but your overall health.
1. Incorporate Strength Training Exercises into Your Workout Routine.
Most runners and people in general think that the only kind of exercise that they should be doing to improve their health and performance is walking, jogging or running. However, cardiovascular conditioning exercises such as walking, jogging, swimming, biking or running can only improve one’s health to a certain degree. If you really want to get stronger, build lean muscle, improve bone density, increase your metabolism and function better overall – regardless of age, then you should really look into Strength Training Exercises. This being said, it is not recommended that you perform ‘body building’ routines, whose only purpose is to build big muscles for show and not for function. Make sure the exercises that you are doing are FUNCTIONAL.
2. Improve Flexibility by Stretching Better
What comes to mind when you think of stretching? There are better ways to improve flexibility than long bouts of static stretching (where you hold a stretch for 20-30 seconds). Here is some information on the latest and most effective stretching techniques, called Active Isolated Stretching (AIS).
3. Properly Align Your Body for Optimal Performance
If a car is not properly aligned, it’s not going to function as well as it could. You can put more horsepower in the engine, top it off with the finest fuel, continually change the oil and put in the best parts, but if it’s not aligned properly, there is going to be decreased performance. The same is true with our bodies. It is possible to properly align your body. At Pain Resolution Institute, we ‘fine-tune’ your body by addressing how your foot interacts with the ground, thus ensuring proper alignment of your entire body. You can find out more information by visiting our Body Alignment through BioMechanical Analysis page or by attending our Seminar on Proper Body Alignment on June 1st.
4. Eat Right (and address the cause of eating wrong)
Mom was right. Eat your fruits & veggies.
Most people know that what they eat effects how they feel, their performance and their overall health. Many people ‘know’ that they should be eating better (more fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, good fats and less processed foods, sugars, and artificial foods), but still don’t do it. What needs to be addressed is the cause of eating the wrong foods. Is is a lack of knowledge? Is is stress at work on in a relationship that causes you to overeat, or not plan meals properly? Regardless of what your reason is, it is recommended to address this cause before addressing the actual foods that you are consuming. After this is addressed, you can focus more on meal planning and striving to eat a more balanced diet.
5. Recover Better through Self Care and Professional ‘Body-Work’
Many people focus on training and exercising hard and intensely, but neglect that their body needs to properly recover to perform and function optimally. There are a few things you can do to improve recovery, reduce muscle soreness and increase performance, such as :
- Foam Rolling
- AIS Stretching
- Hot/Cold Plunges
- Deep Tissue Massage
- Hands on Function Restoration Treatment at PRI
If you take into consideration even 1 of these 5 top things to improve running performance and your overall health, you will see drastic improvement. Like anything worthwhile, it takes dedication, and especially consistency over time if you want to perform better, improve your health and reach your full potential.