Training for a 5k or 10k requires a mix of specific strength workouts and proper pre-run stretches to increase your speed. Discover how to find the best running shoes for your foot type and why joining a running club can transform your performance.
Chafing occurs when something such as skin or clothing rubs against the body and irritates it. Runners often have chafing on the armpits, groin area or inner thighs, since those are common sites of friction when running.
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You have trained for months to run 26.2 miles and want to perform your best. Part of marathon training is learning to fuel properly. Use the weeks and days before your marathon to hone your diet as much as your stride, speed and gear to get the most out of race day.
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Running on grass feels different than running on pavement. Grass is softer and offers less impact as the energy of your footfall goes into the ground and provides less rebound. Your legs work harder on grass and will become stronger.
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The most reliable way for you to increase your running speed -- be it all-out sprint speed or speed sustained over a middle- or long-distance race -- is to practice running, be it endurance work or pure speed work, as often as your body allows.
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According to "The Benefits of Running," which is a paper written by Elizabeth McLeod Sadler of Vanderbilt University, there are a number of benefits associated with running, including drops in blood pressure and body weight, and increases in lung capacity.
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As the saying goes, "when your feet hurt, everything hurts." Similarly, pain in your hip can be debilitating, whether the cause is arthritis, a fracture, dislocation, congenital deformities or bursitis.
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When your foot hits the ground, it gets a jolt of high-impact shock that can wear away at your joints. That's why it's important to have shoes with adequate shock-absorbing capabilities.
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Ankle weights are a fitness tool designed to add extra weight to your lower body during exercise or daily activities, helping you build muscle through resistance training.
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Running is a calorie-burning workout that can tone your legs and buttocks. While there are many benefits to running, there are some common drawbacks--back pain, knee inflammation and foot problems.
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Most people with flat feet experience no problems and require no treatment for their condition, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. These individuals can lead a normal life full of physical activity and sports. For others, flat feet can cause pain and can decrease the foot's flexibility.
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When running up hills, your leg muscles -- hamstrings, quadriceps, calves and hips -- work together with your tendons to propel you forward without providing too much momentum to accommodate the incline. If these muscles are not working cooperatively or if you have an imbalance, you can feel pain when running hills.
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If you are planning a pregnancy, it is likely you want to achieve or maintain a good body weight and overall fitness level before conceiving.
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Speed in football is an important factor in determining the outcome of games. A running back who can get to the corner and turn upfield faster than the defense can get there has a great opportunity to make a big play. A receiver who can catch a ball in stride and turn on the speed can make a memorable touchdown.
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Healthy lungs are critical for runners. The lungs must be conditioned to be more powerful and to improve endurance so that you can run for long distances without becoming too winded to continue.
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Wearing a speed parachute during your sprinting workouts adds an element of resistance that your hips and legs have to overcome. How fast you can sprint is dependent on your technique and explosiveness in your glutes, quadriceps, hamstrings and calves.
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Running shoes are essential fitness tools. But sweat is just one of the many components that can give running shoes a dirty appearance. Weather conditions and grime buildup also affect the way shoes look and smell. Proper cleaning will not only make the shoes look newer, but also prolong their life.
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Pressure placed on the toes during exercise may cause irritation or damage to the nail that result in toenail loss. This condition is common in runners, who refer to it as runnerโs toe. Some factors that cause toenail loss include toenail length, shoe fit and foot moisture.
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Speed is necessary in many sports and the ability to generate it quickly is a coveted skill. If you're a track and field sprinter, sprint swimmer, speed cyclist or speed skater, for example, speed is the most important part of your event.
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You can warm up, stretch and train all you want, but you won't be able to run at your body's maximum speed without giving your muscles the food they need.
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One of the biggest benefits of using exercise to help you lose weight is that your options are virtually endless; you can choose from thousands of different activities that burn calories and improve your health. But with so many options, it's not always clear which form of exercise is best.
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