Running Injury Prevention | A Coach’s Perspective with Jason Fitzgerald
Why do I keep getting injured running? Have you wondered this before or want to know how running injuries can be prevented? Do you think your body is just not made for running? These are the struggles and frustrations I hear often for those looking to seek a healthier lifestyle. I even thought this myself when I started running! It wasn’t until I discovered the proper way to build my body up to tolerate the demands of running that I didn’t get injured.
This “secret sauce” includes two important components: proper running and strength training plans. This week, on the Healthy Runner Podcast, I had the distinct pleasure to interview one of the giants in the running world who is an expert in both of these areas! Jason Fitzgerald is a running coach, author and creator of Strength Running and the host of the Strength Running Podcast. Jason provides a coach’s perspective to injury prevention with a wealth of knowledge! The questions we address are listed below in this article and I also got him to share his #1 top exercise for injury prevention!
For those of you in our running community that are not familiar with Jason Fitzgerald’s work. Jason is a 2:39 marathoner, USATF-certified coach, and author of the #1 selling running book on Amazon Running for Health & Happiness. He writes for over 200,000 runners a month and has helped tens of thousands of runners accomplish their goals with results-oriented coaching programs.
Click the video below to watch the LIVE interview with Jason within the Healthy Runner Facebook Group
You can also listen to the audio version of the Q&A I had with Jason Fitzgerald on the Healthy Runner Podcast…now available on your favorite podcast app!
Here is what other runners are saying about the podcast
In this episode you will hear Jason answer the following questions and even share his #1 top exercise for injury prevention!
1. How do you define injury prevention for running?
2. Why do you think it is important for runners to prioritize injury prevention into their training?
3. Where does strength training for runners fit into the injury prevention picture?
4. How many times a week should a runner do strength training?
5. What are some of your favorite running injury prevention exercises?
6. Do you have any strength training workouts specific to trail running or are the strength programs you create and recommend the same as our road runners?
7. How much does running technique contribute to injury prevention and do you work on these with the runners you work with on a 1-on-1 basis. If so, what are your thoughts on gait retraining with running?
This is jam packed episode with many golden nuggets revealed, I hope you enjoy the episode and as always thank you for listening!
I want to personally thank Jason for taking the time to share his running knowledge with our running community and help us prevent injuries by training smart!
Listen to the Podcast Episode during your next run!
Thank you (running friends) for taking the time to read and I hope you enjoy the podcast episode!
Stay active, stay healthy, and just keep running!
Warmest regards,
– Duane
Duane Scotti, PT, DPT, PhD, OCS
Connect with Jason Fitzgerald:
* Instagram @jasonfitz
* Check out his Strength Running website
* Listen To The Strength Running Podcast
* Like his Facebook Page @strengthrunning
* Send an email: support@strengthrunning.com
Have you been running because you need that stress relief but you are running through pain?…
Do you want to know more about our SPARK Physical Therapy running injury clinic to help you with your knee pain or learn more about our healthy runner evaluation to get you on a specific plan to PREVENT any running related injuries so you can continue hitting the pavement doing what you love?
I hope you enjoyed this article and episode, thank you for listening to the podcast!
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You can teach an old dog new tricks!!! I have never considered myself a runner and I knew I needed to be smart about it because I am no spring chicken. Spark preached getting strong and healthy to be injury free and they practice what they preach. I am soooo glad I made the investment in me! I finished my half marathon last weekend and couldn’t be any happier! The program fed me all the steps I needed to essentially learn how to run long distance, build strength, nutrition help, a forum of other runners and probably most important was the 1:1 coaching. I had no idea how to tackle training for a 1/2 marathon and this program broke all of it down, had it individualized for me and we tweaked as we went to make sure I was staying healthy and strong. I had so many questions the week prior to my race and Coach Cat was always there for me and answering all the questions and issues I had-and believe me there were a lot! The biggest benefit I think I got was the strength. I am strong and fit. But most important was what I gained emotionally. I built confidence and strength I didn’t know I had, even at my age. Honestly could not have done this without Spark Healthy Runners!
My Healthy Runner journey started after I had battled bilateral achilles pain for a few months and was frustrated how it affected my running. As soon as I talked to Duane I knew I had made the right decision. His positivity, enthusiasm and genuine care are infectious. The training plan that was tailored to me included specific exercises to rehab my injury and I was so excited that I didn’t have to stop running. It took patience to only run slow for a few weeks but I trusted the process and it got me me to where I am now: running pain free. We made adjustments to the plan throughout whenever needed having someone in your corner that is always there with guidance and support throughout the process was invaluable.
I just ran my second half marathon, both with Duane’s coaching, and PR’d by over 9 minutes! I got all choked up in the last mile when I realized that I felt strong and could still kick it up a notch.
I’m so thankful for the Healthy Runner program, community and the entire coaching team for all the support!
Wanting to run more consistently, and to increase my long run distance and total weekly mileage, I was concerned about hip pain due to hip alignment issues. This is an issue I had when I trained for my first half marathon several years ago. Having listened to the Healthy Runner podcast for the past couple years, I knew Duane Scotti could help. I signed up for the four-month strength and running training program and am extremely happy with the results.
The program Duane and Coach Whitney developed for me was exactly what I needed. It was tailored to my needs and to my target race. Coach Whitney was very helpful, and with the biweekly coaching calls, we were able to fine tune the program based off my performance and feedback.
At the end of the program, I completed a 10K trail race feeling strong and pain free.
I highly recommend Duane Scotti and the Healthy Runner training programs.