5 tips to be a better runner

So I always said I would do a marathon, now I have done 5 I think, I won’t go into why I now run them as I have done so on a previous blog (https://www.hybridonefitness.com/post/why-i-now-run-marathons) but here are 5 tips for any runners who want to get better at running. Most people stay in their comfort zone, won’t run in rubbish weather or a little bit further, won’t go in the gym and do some strength work, neglecting any of the below could hinder you as a runner;

1 – Plan to Progress - sounds simple but if you are planning to do your first 5k, your first marathon etc. get a plan in place and I don’t just mean run. Plan weekly how far you are going to run, plan your nutrition strategy and try in advance before race day, plan your gym routine. The more you plan the better your results will be.

2 – Don’t just run - get in the gym and do some weights, this means your muscles can get stronger, your core can get stronger and basically if you are stronger you are less likely to get injured and most importantly for a runner you can increase your speed.

3 – Different terrain - run on trails, run on roads, run on sand if you live near a beach, run up hills, run down hills, mix it up basically the same with weather, no one wants to run in the rain I get that but if on race day it’s pissing down and you haven’t run in the rain then you will struggle with that more. As things stand I run on Tuesdays and will do so until I run a marathon on Sunday 22nd November, I won’t run in snow but any other weather and I will run because on race day I haven’t got to worry about the conditions as I have prepared for them all.

4 – Do some Yoga, Pilates and Mobility - runners tend to lack flexibility and this will in turn increase your injury risk and it will hold you back as a runner in terms of your ability, it may be the boring bit of training for most but it can help you so much.

5 – Race against yourself - no one else, I have made that mistake in the past but notably at Amsterdam half marathon when I went there with a sprinters mind-set and set of too fast! At an early age I was a sprinter and for me to change the mind-set if racing against me was hard but it’s what got me my best marathon time of 4 hours 10 minutes, I want a sub 4 marathon at some point and all the above are things I will personally be doing.