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Why the Pilates for Runners course will help to keep you running.

“Half way through my run today my legs felt like lead, so I concentrated on my posture and my arm work. After a couple of minutes my pace picked up and legs felt better! Rain nor super puddles didn’t stop play!” Sara who has completed the Pilates for Runners Course.

Haven’t we all felt like that, out on a run, feel awful, legs like lead each step really hard. Our shoulders become tight and we hunch over more. Sound familiar?

Running can cause lots of different loads and stresses on your body. Increasing your risk to injury.

Between November 2018 and November 2019 6.8 million people went running at least twice within 28 days.

Between March and June 2020 nearly a million people downloaded the C25K app.

More people are running since lockdown and 1 in 10 are getting injured from running.

It’s great to see so many people running but cross training is so important so that you can keep your running going. As you get addicted to running, not running can have a real effect on your body and mental health.

As Ceri Moore, Sports Therapist from Recover Restore Sports Massage said about runners in general the course which she has also just finished.

“I see many runner’s day to day within my scope of work. As with many sports those who participate are passionate. Runners I see are often apologetic for their inflexibility, for not being able to flex their hamstrings or touch their toes. For not warming up or stretching ‘enough’. Very rarely do I recommend repeated stretching or performing static roadside stretches trackside or the at the side of the road. There are so many more appropriate ways to get the best from your exercise. There are many outdated and unfounded beliefs about running still. You will ‘ruin your knees’ or ‘wear out’ your joints. Studies find that runners in fact have stronger knees, the body is amazing at adaptation and rising to the challenge. What I do advise sport specific strengthening, a strong muscle is often a healthy muscle and one less susceptible to injury. Many runners are cautious about ‘building muscle’ and often reluctant to do doing anything other than…… running. The Pilates for Runners Course considers running posture and how to get the best from your body for your running. You will understand how strength in certain areas can benefit your form and how to create a little running checklist to go over in your head while you are out on the track, across the field or on the pavement. Correct form and strength in the right places improve your speed, helps prevent fatigue and many of those irritating injuries. A self-contained course that provides patterning exercises for a strategic warm up, moves to strengthen and help avoid injury and moves that will make you feel even better after your run is highly recommended.”

The Pilates for Runners 6-week course focuses on:

Improving your balance – by building a strong core improves your balance which in turn helps your running
Improving your posture – this is particularly important as you get tired when running. Better posture means better running posture.
Improving your flexibility – focusing on joint mobility in hip, knee, ankles & spine
Resisting fatigue – the stronger you are means you can maintain proper running technique for longer.
Reducing your risk of injury – focusing on your technique will help reduce your risk of injuries.
Aiding your recovery – Healthy muscles help to aid your recovery.

Whether you have done Pilates before or not the course takes you through the basic Pilates principles and how we can build these into our running.

All sessions are recorded so you can watch again and work on the Pilates for running exercises during the week. If you miss a session it’s a great way to catch up.

There is a Facebook community to keep you motivated during the week and an opportunity to ask questions.

Bite size exercises / routines for before and after your runs.

Canicross

Canicross running advice too. Whilst Canicrossing your running technique changes creating more load on your body so it is really important to cross train. As a DogFit Canicross trainer and a Pilates trainer I know first hand the loads and stresses that go through your body and how the Pilates for Runners course is a great way to ensure that you can stay running with your dog.

Remember Cross training is really important to keep you running. It doesn’t need to take hours but a little daily will make a huge difference.

The Pilates for Runners course is available to do at your own pace in your own time.

12, 10-minute videos taking your through the basic set ups, focusing on running specific Pilates moves to help you improve your strength, flexibility and mobility.