Increase Your Speed to Increase Your Running Form

If you’re ready to improve your ability to run and the times of your finishes, you might want to focus on the way you train. While distance running is important for making sure you have the endurance to finish those 10Ks and marathons, you’ll need to take a slightly different approach to shave seconds off your end times.

When you’re ready to boost your speed, you’ll want to start adding shorter, faster runs into the mix. While these runs might not necessarily help you prove you can go the distance, running shorter lengths at higher speeds can help you improve your overall form. It is simply easier to make certain you’re using proper form when you’re focusing on a faster distance. Plus, by increasing the speed and shortening the distance, you’ll build up the ability to spot errors in form you might be making that you don’t know about.

Why does form matter so much?

Holding the right form throughout a run is vital for a few reasons. They include:

1. Ability to finish faster – When seconds count, proper form can be imperative. When form isn’t held properly, it can take you longer to cover a distance. You risk slowing yourself down as your body attempts to propel itself forward. Essentially, run without proper form and you’ll just get in your own way!
2. Form helps you avoid injuries – Proper form is simply critical for helping with injury avoidance. The body is meant to work in a certain way. When form isn’t held, this isn’t happening and injuries can result.

Other Tips for Increasing Speed

Form isn’t the only thing you need to consider when you’re working to cut seconds off a finish. Here are a few others:

1. The manner in which you run. If you go out of the gate at your highest speed possible, chances are you’re failing to pace yourself. Take a tip from the Kenyans and break your course into three parts. Run the first leg a little slower than your normal speed. Pick up the pace in the second leg to a normal running speed. Go out all out in the third and final leg.
2. Your hydration levels – It is imperative to maintain proper hydration during training and before a race. If you’re not getting at least 1.5 liters of water a day, chances are your muscles are going to fight back. Drink to your health and your running time.
3. Your shoes – Be certain you are wearing proper running shoes that are designed to handle the impacts and help you avoid injury.

For other advice on improving your finish times, talk with the pros at Fit For You Health Club. We can help you with everything from form and pacing to selecting the proper equipment so you can go the distance.

Excuses!!! We all have one! What’s yours?

You can’t exercise because the dog ate your workout plan. Likely story. Common exercise excuses you make for yourself can sound just as absurd. Everyone has an excuse to not work out – so what is yours? You’re too tired, it’s raining outside, you don’t have anything to wear; you’ve heard and probably said them all at least once. Let’s shed some light on the top three excuses I hear:

“I don’t have time.” – We all have busy lives. Whether you are retired, married with kids, single, something is always bound to come up that could potentially take time from your workout…if you let it. What are things you have let take priority over the gym that really could have waited? 

“I can’t afford a gym membership.” – Really? The average paid in full one year gym membership comes out to less than $2 per visit if you use the gym 3x a week. And if you were to do the payment plan that most gyms offer; it’s still less than $3 per visit (again, using the gym 3x a week). That is cheaper than the Keurig coffee you make every day and by the time you start using the gym 3x a week, you will have so much more energy you won’t even need the coffee anymore. Can you think of something that you could give up that would save you $10/week to make your gym membership more than affordable? 

“I’m not motivated enough” – I can’t think of anything more un-motivating than sitting at home waiting to be motivated. Think of your health, think of the example you are setting for your kids, think of your self-image and confidence! Everyone has been in the motivation “rut”; what are some things that helped get you back in the workout groove? 

What excuses have you used in the past? How have you overcome them? Or what is your excuse right now? Maybe someone can give you some advice to getting past it!  Look forward to reading your questions and seeing your input. 

Thank you,

Michele Gauthier

“No one ever said weight loss was easy!”

Why do you feel weight loss is difficult? What about it makes it seem so unattainable?  I believe the commitment to change is what truly scares people. So they shy away from what really needs to happen.  Secondly, it is the misunderstanding of how to lose weight. People typically think “ok I’m going to join a gym, start working out and watch the pounds come off” Who else has felt this way? This is a typical misconception.  In reality the easy part is working out, the hard part is sticking to a solid nutrition plan. Maybe you work out for an hour a day maybe a little more, but don’t understand the elements of good nutrition, therefore you are not getting what you need to actually lose weight.  Thirdly, people make nutrition too complicated. Who here feels like this? If you do, it’s ok.  Keep it simple, people want to do too much too fast and they just end up making it harder on themselves.  Losing weight isn’t about starving yourself; it’s about fueling your body, so that it removes excess fat that it doesn’t need. If you truly want to know more and to get more in depth on how to actually lose weight and keep it off, come in and let us help you.  We will answer all your questions and guide you to solid weight loss as well as how to keep it off.  Trust me it’s actually very simple.  I encourage anyone who has questions ask me here and I will be glad to help you.  Look forward to reading your questions and seeing your input. 

Thank you,

Brad Giglio