Learning to run

The art of running

Running is at the very heart of most sports however while we will spend hours practicing and training for our chosen activity, we neglect the very thing that could help us.

But we all know how to run right? Not all of us may like it but it is as easy as putting one foot in front of the other.

That is not the case according to Mike Antoniades and his team of experts at Sports Dimension who are teaching people to run with amazing results at The Running School.

Our modern lifestyle may have given us instant gratification and luxury however it has robbed us of the ability to not only run properly, but in some cases walk properly too.

"People assume that running is something we should just pick up naturally," explained Antoniades .

"I would agree with that about thirty years ago because we spent a lot more time walking and running and in general spent more time playing outside.

"What has happened over the last ten fifteen years - particularly with kids is that more and more of them have turned to the internet, video games and computers for their pastimes. Less and less of them are playing outside and they are just not developing those motor skills needed to run."

"We also have a lot of people trying to pick up recreational running - they think, oh I will go and buy the most expensive pair of shoes and go out and run. What happens is that they get a one programme fits all and in six weeks they are injured.

"That is because of bad bio mechanics. Last year we saw over three thousand marathon runners and I would say 2/3 were injured and nearly all of them got their injury in the first 4-6 weeks. We spend a hell of a lot of time sitting down on our backsides which means important muscles groups like our glutes and hamstrings switch off. They are difficult to switch back on again when we start to run again.

"We teach them to switch on these major muscle groups and they get used to the feeling of what it is like to have these muscles working while they run."

Running on instincts

The Running School is based on 26 years of Antoniades ' experience as a coach and rehabilitation expert having worked with some of the best athletes from the world of football, rugby, track and field and basketball.

It was during the rehab of some of these world class athletes that he began to formulate the idea for The Running School.

"During rehab I had to teach these athletes the running basics," explained Antoniades .

"I have always been fascinated by speed but before I could even progress to getting these athletes faster they needed to learn how to be more efficient

"I was fascinated that no-one was teaching anyone to run and I started working on a protocol that I would able my team to teach people how to run.

"It was trial and error and a lot of experimentation but we developed a programme that would teach people how to run more efficiently and faster too."

Six ways to better running

Quicker and better in just six sessions sounds too good to be true, however it is a remarkable system that is having huge success with runners of all abilities.

The key to success at the Running School is to identify your weaknesses and muscle imbalances while walking and running. That means the first session is an extensive assessment of your body during movement.

The next five sessions are dedicated to adjusting those muscle imbalances and working on getting the correct technique.

"Usually it takes the body about six weeks to change its metabolism," added Antoniades .

"You will notice a huge difference after two weeks however we need to make sure that these techniques become more permanent and the body does not resort back to old habits when you are fatigued."

Injury free

Antoniades explains that this is not a one size fits all programme and that each person is monitored by a team that includes performance & rehabilitation specialists and physiotherapists.

"There is no holy grail in running technique - everybody is built and shaped differently so we have to make sure that we are teaching them the correct technique for them.

"Everyone has different muscle imbalances that affect their running style and wastes energy, we guide people how to move more efficiently.

"It is amazing how we can pick up people's injuries just by watching them run and walk," added Antoniades .

"Incorrect technique puts so much strain on your body that it is inevitable that it is going to break down. By learning the correct running technique for your body, we can eliminate those injuries and get you running pain free."

The road to becoming a better runner is certainly made a lot clearer and easier at The Running School. Like most schools though there is homework to do which is essential for your progress. However it is definitely worth the effort - with a little patience and dedication you can be running the way you were supposed to be running.

For more information contact Sport Dimensions: www.sportdimensions.com

The Running School: www.runningschool.co.uk