5. Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
Prepare for injury free running. Don’t just expect it to happen overnight.
Utilise regular running drills, daily mobility exercises, and dynamic warm ups pre WOD to keep on track. Don’t think it will just happen. It takes work to be good at anything else, so why would running be any different?
Obviously just having these 5 talking points won’t make you automatically better at running. You’ll have to put in the skill work and drill proper mechanics over and over to see any results. Start taking running mechanics as serious as you do about your snatch mechanics, and you’ll start to see some progress.
As you work towards becoming a more efficient runner, remember to video yourself. Video doesn’t lie.
After you’ve been practicing for a while, test your newly learned skills with a couple of common WODS. First, go after a time trial of pure distance. 1 mile for time or run a 5k for time. If that doesn’t do it for you and you want to mix up the movements, take on the benchmark WOD Helen. For those that haven’t had the pleasure of experiencing this WOD, it is 3 rounds for time of:
- 400-meter run
- 21 Kettlebell Swings (24kg)
- 12 pull ups
If running is a weakness, or if you’ve experienced injury in the past from running, the only way to get better is to treat running like a skill that must be practiced. Practice proper form and hit new PRs. This isn’t something you need to do alone. Find a knowledgeable coach to help guide you through the skills and drills. The time you put in will be valuable. You won’t regret it.