sports
conditioning
On-screen training: Star Trac Coach offers personalised
treadmill workouts featuring US running coach Kimberley Shah
Are you doing enough to maximise the income potential of running in your club? Kath Hudson looks at some of the options open to operators
conditioning SPORTS SERIES
on your marks F
or someone who could never be described as a gifted runner, I’ve always been of the belief that the world is made up of
heavy-footed plodders or light-footed bambis. Not so, according to the running experts. Running is a skill, like any other sports skill, and working on the technique can improve speed, ability, enjoyment, stamina and also reduce the risk of injury. Working on running technique is still
a fairly niche concept, but there are a growing number of opportunities to make this a lucrative income stream. Many of the solutions have thus far been London-centric, but they are now starting to reach out, both geographically and in terms of target audience; everyone – children, older people, elite athletes, recreational runners, post-rehab clients and the deconditioned market – can benefi t from improving their running technique. Even seasoned runners will fi nd it interesting to know what they could change to avoid injury.
march 2011 © cybertrek 2011
FRANCHISE ROUTE The Running School, which started in London 10 years ago, launched a franchise business at the end of last year. Those buying into the franchise are trained to use the protocols developed by company founder Mike Antoniades, which were tested on elite athletes, recreational runners and children for eight years prior to the launch of his business. Franchisees are also taught how to approach clients, and how to help them change and achieve their running objectives. “Most people think they naturally
know how to run, but they don’t. Also, sitting down for 10 hours a day turns a lot of muscles off. We re- teach movement and have developed accelerated learning techniques,” says Antoniades. “The common problems we fi nd are that people don’t know how to use their arms, they land badly and shuffl e rather than use rear muscles.” One of the techniques used by The Running School is biomechanical analysis.
It’s the same technology that some sports shops offer when fi tting trainers. But, explains Antoniades, The Running School assesses the whole body rather than just looking at people from the knee down. To buy into The Running School
franchise costs £17,000, plus royalties after six months, but Antoniades quotes impressive fi gures from centres in London and Cardiff that suggest a possible turnover of £250,000–£300,000 by year three with £120,000 annual profi t. “Health clubs can implement the
programmes easily, because they tend to have the right equipment – high quality treadmills – in place,” says Antoniades.
“Our programme has widespread appeal too. This morning, for example, I’ve worked with the country’s top sprinter and a 70-year-old woman who only started running 10 years ago.”
ON-SCREEN COACH Star Trac has responded to the need for running technique training with the Star Trac Coach, available on all of its
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