Make the Most of Downtime

The fall racing season is starting to wind down (how is it Nov already??) and for many runners this time of year is a downtime between training cycles.   But you can still be doing things to help yourself improve during "downtime."   A few suggestions on how to make...

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Expert Q&A: Ryan Belmore, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS

I have had the pleasure of knowing Ryan Belmore and working with him for several years now, and I've always been impressed with his knowledge of running injuries and running-specific strength. So I was happy to have him join me for a Q&A segment.   Here Ryan...

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Speed, Stride Length, and Foot Placement (VIDEO)

One of the services that I offer is a running form analysis. And almost always, one of the topics that comes up is how to increase your stride length (and therefore run faster) without overstriding.   Instead of trying to write about it, I figured it would...

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Leg Swings for Runners

Leg swings are a very common exercise to see runners doing. Often it seems like it's just a way to fidget and kill time -- but done correctly they can be really beneficial.   Used as a pre-run activity, leg swings can be part of a dynamic...

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Skipping for Runners

You may not have skipped since grade school, but it's a great way to work on glute activation and hip extension to improve your running form.   Add in some low-level plyometric work and it's a fantastic pre-run or pre-speed workout exercise to add to your dynamic...

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Open Book Stretch

Tightness in the thoracic spine is a common issue among runners and it can greatly impact your running form and efficiency.   The "Open Book" stretch is a good way to keep your back loose and make sure that you're not compromising your running form. Adding it...

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Running Strength Exercise: Lunges

Lunges are a well-known and classic strength exercise for runners -- and it's with good reason! They are a great way to strengthen running-specific muscles.   They are a good exercise to include as part of your general strength routines, but also make an excellent pre-run exercise...

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Running Strength Exercise: 1-Leg Deadlift

The muscles on the outside of your hips (termed the "external rotators") are a classic weak spot on runners. Weakness there can lead to a host of injury issues, not the least of which is ITBFS.   To help strength the area it's good to focus on...

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Running Form Drill: Wall Running

When I do a running form analysis one of the most common issues that I see is people landing too far in front of their center of gravity. Doing that is not only inefficient, but it also increases impact forces on your legs.   You can help to...

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