SPORT SPECIFIC RUNNING
ON YOUR MARKS F
Want to help your club members improve their running technique? Kath Hudson looks at some of the options open to operators
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, stami- na and also reduce the risk of injury. Perfecting running technique is still a
fairly niche concept. It’s rarely taught in PE lessons at schools, and even running clubs tend to focus on conditioning rath- er than technique. However there are a growing number of running specialists who are 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 de- conditioned market – can benefit from improving their running technique.
Star Track Coach offers personalised treadmill workouts featuring US running coach Kimberley Shah
Expert events Physiotherapist, author and eight-time marathon runner Paula Coates works at London’s Balance Performance Physio- therapy, which offers expert advice to everyone from novices through to Olym- pic athletes. She says it’s difficult for
sport clubs to offer specialised running programmes unless they have an expe- rienced physiotherapist or podiatrist on board who can assess the biomechanics of the lower limb and spine. “Teaming up with local clinics or
freelance physiotherapists and podia- trists could be an option however,” says Coates. “Or perhaps setting up in-club clinics where members can have an as- sessment and learn about technique.” Another option for an in-club clinic
would be to host a visiting Feldenkrais teacher. The UK is some way behind the US and Europe in embracing Feldenkrais – a mind-body approach to movement de- veloped by an Israeli doctor of physics and structural engineer, Moshé Feldenkrais, in the 1940s – but it offers an interesting op- portunity for club operators. According to long-established practi-
tioner, Vreni Booth, Feldenkrais looks at how the human skeleton functions in the field of gravity. “To cope with an injury, Feldenkrais sought a different way of moving, so he studied how the bones are linked and how the skeleton works as a self-balancing structure. It also teaches moving with awareness,” she says.
Left: The Running School analyses and reteaches running technique. Below: Self-balancing the body
68 Read Sports Management online
sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital
Issue 2 2011 © cybertrek 2011
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84