Ballot places for the Great North Run 2013 were announced last week : were you lucky enough to get a place? Leeds chiropractor Alison Eaves here at Revive Chiropractic in Adel, a suburb of north Leeds, will also be running. Alison will be here to share tales of aching legs, mud, cold long Sunday runs and the general misery/euphoria that accompanies training for an event like the Great North Run. It can be really important to have regular chiropractic treatment throughout a training schedule, to keep everything loose and moving correctly and also to iron out any niggles that will inevitably creep in as the mileage increases. Alison will be offering advice on how to maintain injury free running and stay fit and healthy.
So the excitement of getting a place in the 2013 Great North Run is immediately followed by terror as the realisation sets in that you actually have to run 13.1 miles? The good news is that September is a long way away and so there is plenty of time to start a half-marathon training program. So don’t panic.
The key to a successful and injury free preparation is to start early and start gently. Start off too hard to soon and you will likely pick up an injury and you will be needing chiropractic treatment sooner than you thought. If you require chiropractic treatment you may have to stop your running for a short period and this isn’t a great start to your Great North Run preparation.
There are loads of great free training plans for half-marathon preparation out there on the web. Find one that suits you and your lifestyle/timetable. If a program says you must train 6 times a week and you already have other commitments/play other sports then it is unlikely that you will be able to stick to the program. More important is to set achievable goals.
Whilst I am no running coach, I have run several half-marathons before and completed the London Marathon in a time of 4 hours 10 minutes back in 2010. However I’m not one of one of those running nuts who have to run every day. I’m a bit more hit and miss with training and so I think I’m well-placed to empathise with anyone struggling to get a program together. With a bit of determination and hard work you can really achieve a time to make you proud.
You can follow my training/progress by regularly checking the blog at Revive Chiropractic Leeds for tips and advice on training and avoiding injuries. And probably a fair few posts whinging about how hard I’m finding the training!
