Common Issues that Casual Runners Face

With years of experience in leadership positions, Jennifer Heiner serves a New Jersey running company as the retail director, where she is responsible for inventory control, assisting with race directing when necessary, and hiring new associates in periods such as holidays. Besides working in the area, Jennifer Heiner also considers running one of her hobbies — she is an avid runner and marathoner.

Running is known to provide numerous health benefits for those who do it regularly. Marathoners are those who consistently train for long-distance events. However, less serious runners can train for half-marathons as a way to achieve many of the physical and cognitive benefits provided by regular long-distance training. The benefits of taking part in long-distance running events such as marathons and half-marathons come with making consistently long runs.

Typically, runners need to do long-distance sessions of high-intensity running for weeks on end to get ready for a race. This activity provides the benefit of burning away calories, which results in weight loss. Another health benefit of long-distance training is that it strengthens the heart and blood vessels, minimizing the risk of cardiovascular disorders and heart attack. However, this practice is not only beneficial for the physical body. It also improves cognitive aspects such as memory — it is proven that right after long-distance running sessions, runners have a working memory increase of an average of 16 percent.

There are, however, many common issues that runners face, and are often talked about and lamented over. Its important that if you face either of these common problems, and they seem to be getting worse, to consult your local doctor or orthopedist.

Its certainly common to have sore muscles after a hard workout or a race, and even more so when you are just starting out or getting back into running. Taking care of your nutrition, hydration, and ensuring you are getting adequate rest and sleep can help alleviate some of the more severe affects of high intensity training.

Similarly, having the right running shoes are key not only to preventing more serious injuries, but also more common ones like black toenails. Its not a badge of honor to prove how much training you’ve done, its actually proof you are wearing the wrong sneakers or the wrong size running shoe.