You want to run far? Well, here's a little tip
Well, marathon training means putting plenty of kilometres behind you. If you are like me (a bit unfit and a bit overweight), this can mean quite a strain on your body.
Although, I have run a fair few kilometres in my first 3 weeks of training (over 70), my body is still in short distance and walking mode. This means that I have already developed what the call "Runner Knee". This is a condition where you have pain beneath your knee cap and the knee cracks/creaks when you walk. Also walking down stairs is particularly painful.
I initally thought that I was in serious trouble and had developed an injury that would significantly impact my running. However, I Googled my symptoms and was directed to a website that I find provides very good insight and advice on running. It's called www.coolrunnings.com.
It was here that I discovered that I hadn't really developed an injury, rather than I had developed a condition. This condition is here your hamstrings (back of the thighs) become stronger than your quadreceps (front of the thighs and hold your knee cap in place). This causes pain in the knee and can become a serious injury if corrective action isn't taken.
What corrective action, you may ask? Quite simply you have to do excercises that strengthen the quadreceps. Theses include lunges, leg extentions, leg crunches and squats. I have done a couple of sessions of these and can already feel a significant improvements. Give it a week or two and I will be able to report back how effective this has been.
Training to run any long distance is always going to be tough, but it pays to understand how t effects your body and to recognise where you are injured and where you develop a condition that can be corrected.
Happy running...