Exercise

Know Your Running Shoes: 5 Expert Tips for Running Without Trouble and Preventing Defective Footwear

Running isn’t just exercise; it’s a lifestyle. Whether you’re training for a marathon, boosting your fitness, or unwinding after a long day, the right pair of running shoes is key. But what happens when your trusted footwear starts causing trouble? From premature wear to unexpected defects, running shoes can sometimes let us down. But fear …

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Not All Injuries Require Rest

Rest Isn’t Always The Answer Sustaining an injury can be a frustrating experience, especially when the recommended course of action involves nothing more than rest and avoidance of the activity that caused it. While it’s true that rest is an essential part of the recovery process, it’s not always the best solution to promote long-term …

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It’s Normal For These Things To Change

It’s normal for these things to change on a daily basis: How fast you feel How strong you feel How confident you feel How resilient you feel How we feel in our training varies on a daily basis. This is something that is pretty obvious to most people… Some days you feel great! Some days …

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What’s The Best Way To Warm Up For Runners?

I get this question a lot… “What’s the best way to warm up for runners?” It depends! You don’t NEED to “warm up” before you run… In fact, a lot of other types of athletes use running as a warm-up. Some people feel “stiff” or “cold” when they start to run, and maybe for these …

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a person tying a shoe on a running track.

3 Things To Improve Outcomes With A Running Injury

3 Things To Improve Outcomes With A Running Injury Minimize time off from running: It’s okay to take a few days off here and there if something is really “reactive” and just needs to calm down, but most of the time there are ways we can keep training but simply modify running to tolerable standards. …

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5 Things Hikers Should Do In The Off Season

Many hikers find themselves entering the warmer months with big ambitions but little to no fitness. Hiking fitness is very important and not only greatly increases the enjoyment of the activity, but also reduces the risk for injury. Especially if you’re looking to crush 14ers of long backpacking trips, hiking fitness becomes increasingly important. Hikers …

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Stretching Isn’t Doing What You Think It’s Doing

Static stretching is the most common form of stretching that I see misused. It seems like it’s been ingrained into the minds of all active people that stretching is necessary to be athletic or active, but this is not the case. There are three major reasons I hear the most regarding why people are static …

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a man running on a trail in the woods.

Speedwork Does Benefit Ultrarunners

Ultrarunners are used to going long and slow. That’s exactly what most people are doing during ultras anyway. When it comes to training specificity, that’s great, and you’re right, this doesn’t replace long and slow aerobic training and base-building. But this type of work can yield great results when it comes to maximizing your engine. …

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So You’ve Been Given The Direction To Stop Running By Your Doctor

So You’ve Been Given The Direction To Stop Running By Your Doctor

So you’ve been given the direction to STOP RUNNING by your Doctor… Many of us runners have been so frustrated by an injury, we eventually head to the doctor to figure out how to manage this. Or perhaps, you have never had pain/injury and this completely stops you in your tracks with your running. The …

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Is There A Right Or Wrong Way To Do An Exercise?

People make it seem like common sense that there are inherently “good” and “bad” ways to do exercises. I frequently hear things like … “squatting knees past toes is dangerous!” or “deadlifting incorrectly will cause you to slip a disc.” This isn’t the case. It can be safe to train seemingly “dangerous” lifts. For example, …

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Training for YOUR running goals

Training for YOUR running goals

With years of experience as a physical therapist working with injured runners, it is clear to me that we are not all getting the same information regarding training principles. Specifically, I am considering the running component of your training. Some of us might not be seeking out any information at all but rather just training …

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Know Your Pelvic Floor – Return to Running Part 3

Know Your Pelvic Floor – Return to Running Part 3

 Are you a new mom that’s recently postpartum and looking to get back into running? Well first of all, go back and check out my first video and try those four strength training exercises to increase your lower extremity strength and stability. If you’ve done that and you’re feeling strong, you aren’t having any …

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What Are Some Ways To Monitor Strength Training Intensity

Strength training has so many benefits to athletes and overall health in general. Although a common mistake is when intensity isn’t high enough to yield maximum benefits. To build strength, intensity needs to be high enough to challenge our muscles near their FULL capacity. Maximizing the benefit of time spent training is very important for …

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Weather and Training with Atmospheric Scientist Brad Wells

In this episode of the Making Strides Podcast AJ and Adam talk to Brad Wells. He studied atmospheric science at CSU and works in meteorology. Naturally, they discussed all things weather so that you can best know what is coming your way and prepare. Also discussed, are the infamous inversions and how accurate our watches …

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Just Because You’re Exhausted Doesn’t Mean Your Workout Was Effective

Just Because You’re Exhausted Doesn’t Mean Your Workout Was Effective

Workouts should be catered to your specific goals. There should be a lot more thought that goes into workouts than simply being exhausted. Workouts need to be specific to: The movements specific to the goal activity The muscles and joints specific to the goal activity The energy system(s) specific to the goal activity The speed …

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Are Your Rehab Exercises Preparing You For the Demands of Your Sport?

Are Your Rehab Exercises Preparing You For the Demands of Your Sport?

One of the biggest reasons why rehab will sometimes fail athletes is when the exercises are too easy, rudimentary, or generalized. It’s fairly common that new clients will come in and tell me what exercises they’ve been doing or have done in the past, or they’ll show me their rehab program from the last place …

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Don’t Be Afraid to Ask “Why?”

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask “Why?”

Don’t take everything you hear from a medical/health professional at face value. There are so many people offering services, advice, and information regarding health nowadays. Trust in your doctor, PT, or dietician, etc… it shouldn’t be assumed. Asking a simple “why” when reasoning hasn’t been given is vitally important. As a healthcare consumer, understanding exactly …

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Tendons Need Load

Tendons need load! People sometimes wonder why tendon pain can linger for VERY LONG periods of time, months to years. They come to me frustrated and confused, wondering why “nothing has worked” and that they’ve “tried everything.” Then I usually ask, “have you tried high-intensity loading?” The answer is usually “no.” Here’s what usually happens …

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