Running season is upon us again! Whether you are a conventional runner or a barefoot runner(see below) runner is addictive and good for you.

Research shows again and again the amount of benefits running has can fill 24 volumes of Encyclopaedia Britannica.

According to an article in The Times yesterday (Jan 20 2010) there is nothing, it seems a trot round the park cannot cure:

* improves memory
* prevents heart disease
* cure depression
* improves osteoporosis
* improves middle aged spread!

People who need to justify their life as a couch potato always point out the occaisional heart attack victim or the myth of dodgy knees and hips as their reason for not jogging.

In fact watch this video to show you one man’s opinion on the barefoot running. Some think this is the latest craze- but actually it is old school and has been practised successfully for millenia.

However study after study reveals regular runners outlive non joggers.

What’s more new studies now reveal that rather than damage your knee joints, regular running protects vulnerable joints from wear and tear.

Runners can expect 25% less osteoarthritis than non runners.

However injuries do come if you have poor technique- runners will suffer from tendonitis, knee pain, shin splints and back pain if their pelvis rotates too much, they over pronate or they kick their foot out in the swing phase.

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The majority of runners are completely unaware of “how” they run. Most have no idea about their stride length, their cadence, the relationship of their foot, knee, pelvis and hip.

Once these body mechanics are addressed, most injuries simply disappear.

If you suffer recurrent running injuries, do yourself a favour and have a video analysis to correct the underlying problems.

By the way, if you are building up for London marathon, book yourself in for video if you get recurrent injuries.

If you do get any tweaks or strains get in for physio or sports massage asap.

Most people who have to pull out of the marathon due to injury could have been easily fixed had they addressed their problem when it was a little tweak and not run through the pain until their body broke down!

Tags: knee pain, lose weight, running, running injuries, shin splints, sports massage, sports physio, triathlon, videoanalysis