There are four periods of time when runners are most vulnerable to injury:

-During the initial 4 to 6 months of running

-Upon returning to running after an injury

-When the quantity of running is increased (distance)

-When the quality of running is increased (speed)

Most running injuries are caused by recurring factors that runners can often prevent or avoid themselves

Training errors are the most common source of injury, particularly lack of adequate stretching; rapid changes in mileage; an increase in hill training; interval training (going from slow speeds over long distances to faster over less ground); and insufficient rest between training sessions.

When selecting a running shoe, the athlete should look for a style that will fit comfortable and that will accommodate his or her particular foot anatomy. When a shoe’s mileage exceeds 500–600 miles, it should be replaced. Runners should keep also in mind potential anatomic abnormalities.

Hip disorders typically manifest themselves as groin pain. Back discomfort that radiates down the leg is cause for referral to a sports medicine specialist.

The patella (kneecap) is a common site of overuse injuries that can benefit from a 20 minute ice massage, a program of stretching and strengthening of the hamstring and quadriceps muscles and a short course of an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication. Surgery is rarely indicated.

Ankle laxity can lead to frequent ankle sprains and pain. Beneficial treatment includes muscle strengthening to increase stability, shoe modification to alter gait, and change of a running surface. Foot problems in runners are related to foot types. Nonoperative treatment such as orthotics and shoe modifications should be used if necessary.

The ideal surface on which to run is flat, smooth, resilient, and reasonably soft. Avoid concrete or rough road surfaces. If possible, use community trails that have been developed specifically for jogging and running, so you can measure your records for your exercises calculation and monitoring your heart rate, but you can also use speed and distance devices. Use fine jogging shoes to avoid unnecessary impacts on your feet.  Hills should be avoided at first because of the increased stress placed on the knee and ankle. During warmer, humid weather, increase fluid intake; in cool weather, dress appropriately. It is often helpful to weigh yourself before and after running on a hot, humid day. One pint of water should be consumed for every pound of weight lost. Avoid running during extremely hot and cold temperatures or when the air pollution levels are high. When running at higher altitudes, the runner should gradually acclimate to the lower oxygen levels by slow, steady increases in speed and distance.

Eating an adequate supply of healthy  dietary fats is vitally important to your overall health as well as building muscles exercises. Fats are one of the main components in all of the cell membranes throughout your entire body. If  you eat enough healthy natural fats, your cellular processes will proceed normally. On the other hand, if you eat man-made, heavily processed, chemically altered fats (damaged fats) that are found in most processed foods, your cellular function will be impaired as these damaged fats become part of your cell membranes, the body will have to work harder to operate correctly, and degenerative diseases can develop. In addition, healthy dietary fats are essential for optimal  hormone production and balance within the body and are therefore essential for building muscles and burn body fat.

Did you know that eating a diet that is too low in fat will reduce your testosterone levels? You know what the  results of that are: less muscle and more fat on your frame. Females, don’t be afraid…your testosterone is not going to go through the roof by eating more fat. It helps to keep everything in balance for both men and women, as long as you eat the right fats (more on the right fats in a minute). Other important functions that dietary fats play in a healthy body are aiding vitamin and  mineral utilization, enzyme regulation, energy, etc. To burn fat is only a tiny part of being healthy

The Healthy Fatty Food Choices:

•  Coconut fat (and other tropical oils)

•  Extra virgin olive oil:

•  Dark, bittersweet chocolate (>70%  cocoa content)

•  Avocados or guacamole

•  High fat fish such as wild salmon, sardines, mackerel, herring, trout, etc.

•  Nuts (any and all - walnuts, almonds, peanuts, cashews, macadamias, etc.)

•  Seeds (sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, flax seeds, etc.)

•  The fat in organically raised, free-range animals:  This is one area where most people have been misinformed by the mass media. Animal fat is inherently good for us, that  is, if it came from a  healthy animal. Human beings have thrived on animal fats for thousands of years. The problem lies in the fact that most mass produced animal products today do NOT come from healthy animals. They come from animals given loads of antibiotics and fattened up with hormones and fed un-natural feed. The solution is to choose organically raised, free-range meats, eggs, and dairy. At this time, the price is still a little higher, but it  is worth it, and as demand grows, the prices will come down.

The Deadly Fatty Foods:

•  Homogenized milk fat

•  Refined oils

•  Anything deep fried

•  Hydrogenated oils (source of artificial trans fats)



Sit at a desk for long periods of time can cause muscular tension. You can prevent the buildup of stress in your muscles by taking a few minutes to stretch. Try these easy exercises when you need to re-energize, or throughout the day to keep your muscles relaxed:

Head Tilt. Put your right hand on your left shoulder. Tilt your ear right toward your right shoulder, but don't turn your head. Hold five seconds. Switch sides.
 

Neck Roll. Roll your head to the right, down to the front, then left. Do this slowly and smoothly, both directions.
 

Shoulder Circles. Make circles with your shouldersup, back, and down. Switch directions. Do at least five.

Side Stretch. Stretch your arms to the side, then clasp your hands overhead. Keep your head straight forward, but lean your upper body to the right side. You should feel this down your left side. Hold five seconds. Switch sides.
Back Release. Sit at the edge of your chair as tall as you can (be careful if it has wheels). Open your legs apart so your arms drop between them. Straighten your legs, so your heels are on the floor, but not your toes. Knees are relaxed and never locked. Bring chin to chest, and then roll down toward your feet, one vertebra at a time. You should feel this first in your neck, then upper back, middle back, and lower back. This should be done slowly, relaxing into each part of the back. Roll up just as slowly. This