Strength For Distance – A Marathon Runner’s Training Program Formula For Success!

Article by John Angel

Strength For Distance – A Marathon Runner’s Training Program Formula For Success! – Sports

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As a marathon runner your running workouts have to be well structured, but so do your strength training workouts. As an athlete you must always strive to enhance your body’s performance in every way possible irregardless of the type of sport you are preparing for. In other words, even though you are a distance runner this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t work on building your strength as much as possible. Strength, speed, and power are all still important traits to have even for marathon runners.

As a strength and conditioning professional I can tell you that if you are looking to be a dominant force within your sport you must advance your level of fitness. You see the key to fitness goes beyond just being able to perform a single task well, but rather being able to perform that physical task well over and over again. This is the key to being truly fit. Your marathon running training program should be no different. As you organize your strength training workouts for your running program you need to make sure to include lifts and exercises that incorporate whole body movements.

When you engage in whole body movements or multi-joint lifts such as Olympic cleans, kettlebell swings, and plyometrics you inject your body’s bloodstream with a ton of growth hormone causing you to rapidly build a high level of fitness and strength. By doing this you prepare your body better for the physical run that lies ahead. This is why the strength program is such a vital element within the scope of your running training program. By strengthening your body for both muscular power and muscular endurance you are less likely to cramp, sustain muscle fatigue, or most importantly an injury. By incorporating a well structured strength and conditioning program you enhance your marathon running performance in every way. You will be able to run faster, longer, and with a better recovery time. Strength training equals distance my friend!

If you haven’t taken the time to incorporate more of the strength element into your current marathon running program then you are only hurting yourself. Take the time to learn more about the secrets to strength by accessing my articles on kettlebell and other means of training for free. Remember that most anyone can train hard, but only champions train smart my friend!

About the Author

marathontrainingschedule.net is best for website called Marathon Experts. For more information about training for a marathon and to learn how you can successfully complete your first marathon visit http://www.marathontrainingschedule.net/

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John Angel

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How to Start Long Distance Running for Beginners

Article by Edwin Jones

How to Start Long Distance Running for Beginners – Health – Fitness

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Your heartbeat pounds in your ears, your eyes focus straight ahead and you only feel the thumping of your feet striding the path as the wind rushes by.

Yes, the experience of running can indeed be described as spiritual or poetic, but unfortunately many new runners find the experience to be boring, painful or even the cause of a serious injury which turns them off running altogether.

If you are interested in running for health, recreation or to train for a marathon supporting your cause, it is wise to take time to develop a healthy routine that will protect your body and create an enjoyable running experience.

STEP ONE: PREPARE TO RUN

It is crucial for a runner to invest in a proper pair of running shoes. Not doing so will put you at an increased risk of pain and serious injury. You will also quickly notice that a proper pair of running shoes gives you more cushion and support which will make running easier than using regular street shoes or those developed for another sport.

Hydration is also important for running. Staying hydrated will help you endure the run and keep your body in prime condition.

If you are training for a long distance race you will want to keep a log of your distance and/or time. You may also wish to log your style of training, any discomfort or feelings about the run if it suits your needs.

STEP TWO: WHERE TO RUN

Concrete sidewalks are NOT the place to run. Harder than asphalt and full of cracks you should make the effort to find a more suitable running surface.

Tracks are usually safe, but can be boring. If tracks are the only option try taking a friend to encourage you to stick to your routine.

Smooth dirt paths are the best option. Grass can work as well but watch for obstructions or uneven surfaces. You can ask local runners or a running store for recommendations for places to run.

STEP THREE: HOW TO RUN

There are various training methods for long distance runners, including interval training and speed training. However, for beginners there are a few basic suggestions to get you started.

Begin every run with a warm up walk. This gets your muscles ready to move. Take a walk break every ten minutes to rehydrate and extend your endurance.

Don’t forget to breathe. You should be able to talk while running unless you are going for a fast run which is not usually suitable for a beginner. If you are gasping for breath you need to slow down. You will build endurance with time. It is better to start out easy and build up than wear yourself out.

STEP FOUR: HOW TO FINISH THE RUN

You should always walk for a minute or more after a run to cool down. Stretch your muscles for 10-15 minutes within about 15 minutes of completing your run to keep them from contracting and causing discomfort.

Ice packs or cool water on your legs will also reduce inflammation and help keep your body in good condition for the next run. Not taking these steps can lead to severe injury.

Enjoy your run and take care of your body and you may find that you enjoy the mental benefits of running as much as the physical!

About the Author

About the Author: Edwin Jones is a writer on a wide range of Internet and health and fitness related topics. His latest website has detailed reviews on various types of Cross Traing Shoes. Find out more here about Cross Training Shoes You have full permission to reprint this article provided the sentence above and links are kept.

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Edwin Jones

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Power Golf Exercises That Are Proven To Add Distance

Article by Mike Pedersen, CPT

Power Golf Exercises That Are Proven To Add Distance – Sports

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Power golf exercises are a unique set of exercises that you do not do in a gym on machines, nor do you lift heavy weights. For that matter, you can do simple power golf exercises right in your home with minimal equipment.

You see…to improve the power in your golf swing, you need to look at the mechanics that create the power.

It’s not your arms swinging the club as hard as you can! It’s not your legs driving your body through the swing! And it’s not swinging some funky 50 inch shaft with a 600cc titanium head either.

It’s quite simple!

The power in your golf swing is your CORE!

Your core is the engine to your swing. If your core is weak or inflexible, you will never be able to hit a powerful tee shot. This is harsh…but very true!

The modern power golf swing is one of being “connected” with your upper body. Not letting your letting your arms get separated from your body. Rotating your upper body as a whole, over a somewhat stable lower body will produce maximum power at impact.

So the perfect power golf exercises involve rotational movements with resistance in your core area. The are many exercises you can do that will dramatically improve your driving distance and power…and no gym required!

A simple power golf exercise for your core is my Seated Twist w/Dumbbell:* Sit upright in your chair.* Hold single dumbbell straight out from chest with arms fully extended.* While keeping your head focused straight ahead, rotate your arms to the right, then to the left as far as you can go both ways.* Do this non-stop for 20 total rotations.* Pause for 15 seconds and repeat 2 more times.

At first you will feel very restricted in your midsection. That’s a sign of how limited your rotational flexibility really is. But do this exercise daily and you will see improvement quickly.

The next time you step out onto the course, you’ll blast your drives up to 20 yards further!

As you can see above…the key is ROTATIONAL exercises with resistance, whether it be a single dumbbell, exercise tubing or even a weighted golf club.

Doesn’t matter what you use, as long as it is up to 5 pounds in weight and you can handle it easily in both hands. If you’re already in good shape go for 10-15 pounds and increase your rate of speed. This will both improve your “fast-twitch” core muscles and also your range of motion for a bigger backswing and a complete follow through.

So you see…I wasn’t fibbing! It doesn’t take a gym or fancy equipment to do effective and proven power golf exercises!

About the Author

Mike Pedersen is one of the top golf performance trainers in the country, author and founder of several cutting-edge online golf improvement sites. Take a look at his just released golf dvds and manual at his power golf swing site – Perform Better Golf.

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Mike Pedersen, CPT

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Avoid Injuries From Running – 3 Simple Keys For Distance Runners

In order to improve as a distance runner you must avoid injuries from running. Consistency is the underlying goal of any training program. A distance runner thrives on progressing from week to week and month to month. Whether striving to get faster or go farther, a running injury can put a stop to any progress and begin to lose some of the hard earned endurance and speed. To maintain constant improvement, distance runners can benefit from the following keys to avoid running injuries:

Know your personal limits

Every runner has a different breaking point. The best example of this relates to a runners weekly mileage. Elite runners training volume will often include weeks of 100+ miles. For the everyday distance runner, this volume may be far beyond their limit. Your limit is the point that as you approach your body starts to break down.

For example, each time a particular runner approaches 50 miles in a week, an unannounced injury will pop up setting back their training. With proper training personal limits can be pushed back, but it is best to allow your body time to adjust to levels just below your limits and slowly build up to and then beyond.

Recover Recover Recover

The nature of increasing speed or endurance as a distance runner is based on consistently tearing down your body and slowly improving with each consecutive workout. The only way to steadily get faster and stronger is to allow your body to heal in between runs. This is especially true of speedwork, tempo and long runs. Training creates micro tears in your muscles and recovery allows them to heal themselves and get stronger. Proper recovery helps to repair your muscles.

Without the rest needed to rejuvenate, weakened muscles can swiftly lead to injury.

Identify Your Weak Areas

The body is only as strong as your weakest area. Experienced runners will listen to their bodies to see what areas are “talking” to them before, during and after a run. These talkative areas are generally the weak areas of the body. Once identified, these weaknesses can be targeted through specific exercises to strengthen potential problem areas.

Find More Speed Workouts For Distance Runners Articles

Keeping In Shape – Long Distance Runners’ Conditioning Exercises

Article by Daryl B. Chapman

Running requires exact coordination of all the muscles in your body. The muscles in one’s upper body hold to work in an optimal running position ie head up, chest open, elbows bent, shoulders relaxed, and arms wavering. While the muscles in one’s lower body and abdominal core constantly works during a run. It stabilizes one’s trunk so it can efficiently move the legs and arms. Long-distance running requires a balance in energy, as it is very energy consuming. It necessitates complete mental agility and conditioning workout.

What does conditioning exercise mean?

Conditioning workouts are exercises that amplify athletic skill and physical fitness but at the same time decreasing the chance of sports injuries. Several programs are formulated and these include weight training, aerobic exercise, plyometrics, calithenics, and workout based n real-life motions. These differ depending on fitness goals and athletes compliance altitude to fitness and athletes level (beginners versus experienced).

The principle following this type of exercises is based on the statement that the body must go through certain challenges in order for it to remodel to the stress exerted in the body during exercise. To accomplish excellent athletic performance, athletes use targeted, specific movements that mimic the moves used in the field or court.

There are two kind of conditioning workout: Aerobic and anaerobic conditioning. Aerobic conditioning uses oxygen to produce energy and it increases cardiovascular stamina and lung capacity. It includes any activity that increases heart rate and challenges heart and lung capacity. On the other hand, anaerobic conditioning does not use oxygen when producing energy. It is appropriate for sports that necessitate intense, sudden burst of strength or speed that are difficult to do for an extended period of time. Example of this kind of exercise includes sprinting and weight exercise.

Following are the best conditioning exercises intended for long distance runners:

1. Core conditioning exercise. One of the most important muscles that one must condition is the abdominal core muscles. These muscles assiduously work during a run as it stabilizes one