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March 2007 NewsletterARTICLE - How Different Walking Surfaces can Give You a Spring in Your StepHello healthy people, Last weekend my husband Andy whisked me away to Aviemore for my birthday. It was blissful - no email, no mobile phone reception and miles of walks in the wilderness. It is embarrassing to admit that as we were walking through the middle of nowhere, I came up with lots of excellent ideas for this newsletter. What's in Season Oatcake Topping of the Month Easy Recipe That's it! Easy hey? Resisting Temptation Hint of the Month Exercise of the Month Change in Rates Off Peak (9.00am until 5.30pm) Existing clients: Don't forget that for every new client who you recommend and books in, you get £5 off your next fitness session
Article - A Spring in Your Step Newton's third law: "for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction". Bet you never think of physics when you are out and about, but perhaps you should. I do a heck of a lot of running. I like it. I enjoy getting folk moving, however I feel that there is a factor that many of us never think of. Sure, we've got good trainers, but do you ever think of the surface beneath your feet? Newton's third law basically says that the harder you step, the more the reverberation. Have you ever wondered why you have sore legs after a long run (or even a hard day's shopping)? It's partly the shockwaves sent back up your legs from pounding the pavement.
Grass and dirt tracks absorb the shock from your legs more, and are 'spongier' surfaces on which to run. Another interesting thing about off road running and walking is that the surface is likely to be more uneven, so you will need to concentrate more on where you put your feet. The advantage of this is that is will help strengthen your ankles and lower legs. However do be aware of twisted ankles, especially on pebbly or rocky tracks. Running or walking in the sand is another idea. The deeper the sand, the more intense the workout. For a faster run or walk, stick close to the water on the hard sand. Masai Barefoot Technology shoes are a new invention which are replicate the uneven feeling of walking on sand (based on the Masai tribe, who run great distances in the African sand). They're about £140 and are shaped like platform shoes with a curved sole. MBT's are meant to get the core muscles working through being inherently unstable. However, why pay top dollar for some crazy looking shoes when you can walk on bare earth or sand yourself? So consider changing your regular route to incorporate varying surfaces and feel the difference in your weary pegs. Viva la difference!
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ContentsARTICLE - How Different Walking Surfaces can Give You a Spring in Your Step What's in Season Oatcake Topping of the Month Easy Recipe A Social Bike Ride Resisting Temptation Hint of the Month Exercise of the Month Sign up for your free monthly fitness newsletter
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I will be leading an informal bike ride for the Sunday Brunch Club on Sunday 25th March (rescheduled from January, when the weather was inclement to say the least). It's a social gathering of mixed abilities and we will stick to bike tracks. Our route is the rather scenic and flat round trip from The Shore at Leith to Cramond, where we can stop for a bite to eat at the Cramond Inn before returning back. We'll be leaving from outside Café Truva on The Shore at 11am returning by 4pm at the latest. You can telephone / text me on 07743 741 088 if the weather is squiffy to make sure it's definitely on.
Concrete is not a forgiving surface. Nor is tarmac, or most other hard-wearing traffic-bearing materials. They're made like that to last. Do you thin our forefathers and mothers would have sprinted across lengthy rock surfaces? In a word, no. Our bodies are designed to step on softer surfaces, which is why so many long-distance roadrunners end up with shot knees, shattered tibias and shin splints. | © Copyright 2008 All material Tracy Griffen - Web design by DunbarWebDesign.co.uk |