It’s hard to believe, but the Boston Marathon is only six months away, and over 30,000 runners are preparing their bodies for the 26.2-mile journey. It is important to make sure that your body is ready, and can handle the distance without inflicting major pain on yourself,far in advance of a race as intense as Boston. For 119 years, the marathon has been a major success but the aftermath is what could cause potential harm to your body if you don’t train and exercise the appropriate way.
Each year 79% of runners report to have running related injuries that result in needing medical attention, but by using proper stretches and running techniques you can reduce your risk for recurring pain and injuries. A good place to start is with a sound running stance, which consists of having a tight core and arm swings that move at 90 degrees side to side, not to the front of your body, along with short strides.
Dennis Borg, an Injury Prevention Specialist at The Micheli Center, notes that while it’s important for runners to be fit, they shouldn’t “run to be fit, but instead be fit to run”. Making sure that your body can handle what it is about to go through is extremely important to lessen the chance of an injury, and that requires strength training and the proper flexibility.
With proper form and training, as well as addressing any issues with your running mechanics, you could be on your way to preventing a running mishap! Below are some exercises to improve your balance, tighten your core, and increase your mobility:
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