Preventing Injury as Training Increases

A retail sales director, Jennifer Heiner oversees daily operations for three branches of a New Jersey running company. In her free time, Jennifer Heiner enjoys running and training as a member of the New York Road Runners. The largest non-profit running organization in the United States, the New York Road Runners (NYRR) aims to improve both individual lives and communities through running. In addition to sponsoring some of the country’s largest races, including the New York Marathon, the NYRR organizes training and service events and operates a youth program called Rising New York Road Runners. Aimed at inspiring kindergarteners through 12th graders to gain skills and confidence, the program recently launched a coast-to-coast virtual challenge. The challenge invites young people to join Olympic and Paralympic athletes in completing a number of activities while tracking their progress via a printable Road Map. For each region, children can participate in a series of training videos designed to get them moving, and also learn interesting facts about each geographical area. Children can participate individually or as a class, and can celebrate their successes with printable certificates.

While virtual races and training are still happening in the midst of the pandemic, a lot of live races are returning to roads near you. The excitement over training for a race can lead some of us to do too much running and training too soon, which can lead to injury.

Penn Medicine, who is one of the sponsors of the postponed to fall Broad Street Run in Philadelphia outline in the graphic above some common runner injuries. Make sure you take the time to warm up before a run, and stretch after. Heat and ice work wonders, and maintenance with massage and foam rolling will keep those miles feeling good!