Thanksgiving Day is filled with many wonderful traditions.  What are your family’s traditions on Thanksgiving?  It most likely includes some of the following: turkey and dressing, watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, pick-up football games, watching the Lions or Cowboys football games, naps on the couch, and maybe more.  One of my favorite traditions is running in my hometown’s Turkey Day 5-K.  It is a wonderful tradition that brings family and friends together to kick off a great holiday.  I highly recommend adding a run to your Thanksgiving Day.  Many of these races are family-friendly and a lot of fun as they kick off the holiday season.  Because of this, Thanksgiving Day races continue to grow in popularity.
Read more

By: Matt Yost, ACSM HFS, BS Exercise Science
 
Not everyone is an Ironman, marathoner, or competitive cyclist. In order to compete at such long distances one must have a highly trained level of endurance. Not everyone wants to be an Ironman, marathoner, or competitive cyclist, and that’s okay. However, most of us would like to improve our endurance either in sport activity, work, or simply to improve our endurance throughout the day. And in the process why not shoot for that 5k, 10k, or half marathon?
Read more

In part one of this two part series we analyzed the running motion.  We looked into running as a learned skill and the importance of running with proper technique.  We then analyzed where runners expend energy and how to minimize wasted energy and maximize the energy required to keep our bodies in the running motion.  Hopefully the first part caused you to rethink aspects about your own running technique.  After reading part 2 you will have a solid understanding of how to run correctly and how use that understanding to correct your own technique.
Read more

This part one of two series dives into and analyzes the running motion.  This article will challenge you and cause you to rethink the way you run.  This first part will look into running as a learned skill and the importance of running with proper technique.  We will then analyze where runners expend energy and how to minimize wasted energy and maximize the energy required to keep our bodies in the running motion.
Read more

By: Matt Yost, ACSM HFS, BS Exercise Science

As someone who has experienced and overcome many injuries from sports I would consider somewhat credible in this topic.  I have been the victim to a number of injuries ranging from iliotibial band syndrome (knee pain) to tennis elbow to plantar fasciitis in both feet (heel pain) to hamstring tears to ankle surgery.  As a competitive athlete for most of my life I have put my body through the rigors of training and competition.  Through those rigors my body has endured several injuries, some minor and some major.  An injury is simply a set back, not an end all.  It’s a new challenge.  It’s a new hurdle to overcome.  It’s not the end.  Yes, you may have to adjust your workout routine or you may have to take complete rest, but you’re never out of the game for good.  An injury is a problem and we have to fix it.
Read more