Prevent Injury in Your New Fitness Routine or 5k Training
Are you an experienced runner looking to shave some time off your 5k time or are you a beginner trying to go from couch to 5k? If so, you'll need to put together a 5k training plan that will help you reach your goals. But before you do, it's important to understand the risk of injuries and how to prevent them. In this blog post, we'll discuss some tips for staying safe while pushing yourself hard in your training.
“Couch to 5k” is a term used widely to express the journey of a person going from being not very active to running a 5k as a goal. Alternatively, if you are seasoned runner, you might want to reduce the time you take for your 5k runs and get better at it. Either way, there are some facts you should know regarding injuries related to running and how to prevent them.
Common Injuries During 5k Training …and How to Prevent Them
Just like many other goals, a 5k training plan is quite doable with some commitment and enthusiasm. Along the way, you might encounter some common injuries including:
-
Foot Fatigue - A commonly occurring yet frequently ignored problem. This can feel like achy feet or legs, or sore leg muscles. This is especially common if you don’t have the right support under your feet. A quick and easy way to prevent this problem is by using an orthotic insole that matches your arch height. The PowerStep Pinnacle series offers arch support for low, neutral, or high arches, and creates proper alignment with your back and hips. The PowerStep Pinnacle will keep your feet supported, and help your back and hips stay aligned for all your runs.
-
Shin splints - Runners encounter this issue nearly every day. It could be due to being overweight, improper stretching prior to athletic activity, or lack of shoe or foot support. Having a good diet and resting will heal your shin splints. Luckily, you can aid this process by using proper arch supporting insoles that are specifically designed for running shoes. Whether it is an advanced 5k training plan or couch to 5k, pain-free shins will help you ace it.
-
“Twisted” Ankle – “Twisted” ankles, or sprained ankles, occur due to an imbalance of the feet, typically during running on a rough surface or hiking, but there are many other contributors that can cause this injury. If you are a beginner, your ankle ligaments (support) might not be strong enough to take on all the pressure of a 5k. To solve this issue, try going slow and easing into it. Take on small targets and ample time to reach your 5k.
PowerStep Orthotic Insoles
Having any of the above-mentioned difficulties in your couch to 5k or advanced 5k training plan sounds bad. Fortunately, where there’s a will there’s a way. PowerStep orthotic insoles provide proper arch support and stability that will help to relieve and prevent pain and injuries.
