Researchers from the School of Clinical and Applied Sciences at Leeds Beckett University have launched a partnership with minimalist footwear company Vivobarefoot. The partnership involves two fully funded doctoral scholarships being offered, jointly funded by Leeds Beckett University and Vivobarefoot. Please see here for more information; the closing date for applications is 31 May 2019.Continue reading “Vivobarefoot Research Partnership”
Tag Archives: running
Tapering for the Leeds Half-Marathon
With little over 2-weeks to go, there will be three types of runners preparing for the Leeds half marathon. Those who have their training in the bag and are managing a descent toward the start line, those that are trying to make up for lost time and those who have done some good training butContinue reading “Tapering for the Leeds Half-Marathon”
Variability a Runners Best Friend
Running is short on variability which means finding ways of introducing it, is key to injury prevention. Interval running, barefoot running, tempo running, park running, road running, beach running, bike ‘running’, yoga applications, plyometrics and conditioning exercises are some of the ways I attempt to maximise variability during a week of running. This blog comesContinue reading “Variability a Runners Best Friend”
Running to Feel: The Key to Improving Running Fitness
Once a runner understands what a ‘normal’ effort feels like for a given type of run or workout they should stick to it. The watch will vary considerably day-to-day for a given perception of effort, but how the runner feels represents what their physiology is capable of that day. Fighting physiology to try and somehowContinue reading “Running to Feel: The Key to Improving Running Fitness”
The Flexible Mindset: Key to the Design of the Consistent Run Programme
A flexible mindset allows you to make better training decisions that are based on your needs as an athlete rather than what is written on a piece of paper. This allows you to cope more effectively with set-backs or deviations from the plan without feeling as though you are failing. The flexible mindset allows youContinue reading “The Flexible Mindset: Key to the Design of the Consistent Run Programme”
Pace Variation: The Missing Link in Running Injury and Performance
Slow and Slower Relative to a maximum sprint, runners spend the majority of their time running slow or variations of slow to moderate. The long run is slow. The recovery run is slow. Even the tempo run, if we compare it to the sprint is slow. If you’re not engaged in any interval work orContinue reading “Pace Variation: The Missing Link in Running Injury and Performance”
What are the most common running injuries?
We pooled injury data from 36-studies in which 18,195 runners reported 10,688 injuries. The purpose was to find out what the most common running injuries were. This is called a systematic review of literature. Our review has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine. In total, this process has takenContinue reading “What are the most common running injuries?”
Project 33: Coming Full Circle
What a journey it has been. Running for 140 of the last 148 weeks after almost 10-years plagued with injury. That in itself would have seemed like a pipe dream just a few years ago. Consistency brought about performance improvements. It started with accepting I was a 36:40 10-km runner in 2015, before improving inContinue reading “Project 33: Coming Full Circle”
Allowing Foot and Physiology to Uncoil as One
A greater focus on conditioning and cross-training this summer allowed me to experiment with some ideas I had about running. One of the hottest summers on record meant that all of my usual grass running routes were almost rock solid. I wondered whether, over time, I would be able to increase pace and distance whilstContinue reading “Allowing Foot and Physiology to Uncoil as One”
Build Your Discipline Over Time
Running to improve is a discipline more than it is a sport. Discipline cannot be created over night nor should it be, so cut yourself some slack and build your discipline over time. The idea for this blog came to me when I began my latest phase of training. A friend of mine commented onContinue reading “Build Your Discipline Over Time”
Peter Francis 