How to Prevent Running Injuries

As a runner I meet many people who tell me they want to run, but are fearful of the injuries that are so common as a result of running. Ways to avoid running injuries are numerous. It's a matter of being aware of what they are and then making a conscious effort to implement those methods regularly to keep yourself free from injuries due to running. If you're a serious runner, be sure to be diligent about injury prevention to avoid serious problems in the long run. Here's a few things that have helped me prevent running injuries throughout 28 years of pounding the pavement.

Eat Well , Eat Raw

I think everyone has a fundamental understanding of what eating well is, however eating enough raw food to regenerate and build strong healthy tissue that comprises tendons and other connective tissues can seem obscure. Raw food should be a large part of what runners eat, mostly because it has the components in it to repair, restore and rebuild tissue. In general, running is hard on the body and repairing tissue is always part of what's going on.

Run Less

If you're a dedicated runner who truly enjoys the sport, chances are you run most everyday. That's great until you reach an age when that results in some joint pain of some sort. That's the point I've personally come to.

I have found that I still am able to run, however it has to be less than it once was, and certainly not on a daily basis anymore. Every other day is about as often as it gets, which seems to work well for me. As a result of running less, I'm able to keep running, and for an avid runner that's better than not running at all.

Stretch Well

Never run without a good stretch prior to running. Tight muscles that aren't as flexible during a run, especially a lengthy run. Implementing some good yoga stretches for 15 minutes before a run will decrease your risks of getting some sort of injury related to tight unstretched muscles.

Decrease Your Mileage

If you're someone that typically accumulates a lot of mileage throughout the week, and find yourself more sore than you used to, try scaling back on your mileage. You'll still be engaging in your favorite sport, and if running is your passion that's important. Most serious runners will agree that running shorter distances is a small price to pay when the other option is not to run at all from injury.