Get More from Your Running Sessions with These Efficiency Boosting Tips

Running is one of the most basic yet effective ways to stay fit. However, a lot of people come back from their running session feeling absolutely exhausted, yet they don’t seem to be getting the results they had hoped for. This indicates that there are inefficiencies in the way you go about running. Read on to discover how you can train your body to be a more efficient machine.

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• Improve your stride rate – One of the most effective ways to get more out of running is to focus on improving your stride rate. This is simply the number of steps you take in a minute. There are many different fitness tools and watches available today that will track this for you; so don’t feel like you need to count your steps when you are running. The aim is to have a stride rate of around 90 per foot or 180 in total per minute. If your stride rate is much less than this, it means you are wasting a lot of energy because you are creating oscillation. It also means that instead of rolling quickly over the ground, you are employing brake forces with every stride you take. So, how can you improve your stride rate? One of the best ways to do this is to listen to a music mix at 180 bpm.
• Wear a weighted vest – The best way to up the ante with regards to your fitness training is to invest in a weighted vest. This will ensure that weight is distributed evenly on your torso, and it will mean that you get much more from your running sessions. To find the best weighted vest for running, spend plenty of time researching online and reading reviews that have been left by others. It is important to find a vest that fits comfortably yet is effective.
• Enjoy it – It sounds silly, but you will actually get much more from your workout if you enjoy it. Sweating is supposed to make you feel good; it’s not supposed to make you feel downbeat and overly exhausted. Don’t push yourself too hard, and find different ways to give your running sessions a boost. This could be by listening to your favourite music, partnering up with a friend, or taking a scenic route.
• Get strong – Another reason why you may be inefficient in your running technique is that you aren’t strong enough. This is not meant as an insult; it is actually a natural occurrence for runners. It is not uncommon for a runner to develop muscle imbalances that generate more work for the body when we ask it to run. Muscle weakness can easily occur if you do not address the imbalances directly. You need to incorporate exercises into your routine that will balance your body strength so you can more efficiently. This includes push-ups, clams, lunges, squats, planks, the bridge, and rowing with resistance tubes or weights.

If you embrace the four tips that have been mentioned above, you will get a lot more from your running routine, and you will feel much better for it too.