Runner-Tips

Today’s post is dedicated to all my running friends and those who might one day become runners. One of the biggest reasons people quit running is because it hurts!

That could be because they went too far too soon, muscle imbalances, improper technique, etc… That is why we have done running workshops in the past with physical therapist Dr. Nancy Harden, to give people the tips and tools to use to run pain free.

Today I have three things for you to add into your daily routine that will take you 5 minutes to do, but can make a huge difference for you.

Couch stretch

This stretch, made famous by Kelly Starrett, can be a lifesaver for people who have tight hips. And since the majority of us sit too much, the majority of us have tight hips.

This video shows a man with some fancy shoes demonstrating how it is done:

 

Lacrosse ball in the glutes

This is a step up from using a foam roller. It is a step up in effectiveness as well as how much it hurts. But tight glutes can lead to tight IT bands, tight IT bands can lead to knee pain, and then knee pain will make you quit running.

So here is another video that is not me:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15bwZmuAJpk

I couldn’t do the two videos above without crying on camera, so I outsourced them.

Pinch of salt

If you are running long distances in the heat, you know you need to drink more water. But what’s the deal when you are drinking water all day, you’re peeing clear like they say you should, but you still feel thirsty? That probably means you are not absorbing the water you are drinking.

A simple fix to that is adding a pinch of salt to your plain water. You do not need to add salt with any water you are drinking with meals, just the times during the day when you are chugging water. You will feel more hydrated and cuts down on the bathroom trips too.