Natural running can help improve your physiology and make you a stronger runner. By allowing your foot to move naturally, specialist running shoes help to strengthen your lower leg muscles and improve your gait. Check out our natural running shoes
But natural running also demands more of you as a runner. To be fast, you need to work on certain muscle groups that are more necessary in natural running.
It comes down to 2 areas: stretching and strengthening.
Stretching
You should do stretching exercises during your warm up.
What to do:
Foot stretch (sitting)
What it does: Helps to prevent injury in the sole of your foot, such as plantar fasciitis.
How long? Hold for 30 seconds.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=EN55P6Avc0A
Foot stretch (kneeling)
What it does: Helps to prevent injury in the sole of your foot, such as plantar fasciitis.
How long? Hold for 30 seconds.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&list=PL413896CB90CB8F2B&v=m4xX2DnEpvw
Strengthening
You should do strengthening exercises:
after a light warm-up run
on a rest-day
after a hot shower
What to do:
Calf raises
What it does: Improves your push-off by working your calf muscles and the plantar muscles along the sole of your foot
How long? 15-50 repetitions for each leg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=qzvt4vce4wY
Toe raises
What it does: Trains your shin muscles and helps you develop a smoother gait cycle from heel to forefoot.
How long? 15-50 repetitions
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xWR6P5fmx0c
Toe grips
What it does: Strengthens your plantar muscles and arches.
How long? Pull the towel 15-50 times.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=HHphCbFUWGo
Combining your strength training with runs in natural running shoes is the best way to improve your overall technique. Also, come shop our full collection of running shoes and running clothing today!
