Don’t Fall Victim to Training Errors

Amanda Gomes

Events like the recent Manitoba Marathon often inspire people to take up running or to set personal goals to run further or faster.  Running can be a terrific way to stay in shape, maintain fitness and lose weight. It can benefit both your physical and mental health.  Challenging your body to perform requires focus, discipline and planning.

Before taking up running or setting your next personal best goals remember that running injuries are common and the majority of these injuries are related to errors in training. Simply put, training error can be described as doing too much, too soon and too quickly.

Common training errors for runners include:

  • Increasing mileage (weekly/long run) too quickly
  • Insufficient recovery between runs (rest is more important than you might think)
  • Lack of variety within the running program
  • An abrupt or sudden change in running conditions (shoes, surfaces, weather, etc.)

Injuries happen, and unfortunately the majority of runners will deal with some type of ache or pain at some point during their running journey.
Once you have decided what your running or racing goal is, make sure it is realistic and be sure to have a training plan that allows adequate time for your body to adapt to your training.  Progressing slowly and being mindful of other parts of health (strength, flexibility, nutrition, sleep, etc.) can all reduce the likelihood of falling victim to training error.

If pain or injury does arise with your training, consult with your physiotherapist as early as possible for an assessment.  Be sure to bring your training plan with you to inform your therapist of your goals. A thorough evaluation can determine if you there are other factors related to your running mechanics, equipment (shoes), strength or flexibility that can be addressed to allow you to stay on track with your plan and achieve your running goals.

Reach out to the Pan Am Running & Gait Centre for an assessment today! 
Call 204-794-4800