We founded RunTeach from our passion for helping runners from all backgrounds and abilities to learn to run the right way for them. We are all individual, and while there are some standard running templates that act as a solid starting point, we all need to learn to run to suit our unique body and circumstances.
It is far too easy for a running shop to prescribe stability or motion control shoes as a quick fix. It is far more complicated to ask the question “why?” and dig for an answer. Everyone wants the magic bullet whereby you can go into a running shop with a painful knee and are sold miracle shoes that solves all your pain. But how many times have you bought “miracle shoes”?
Of course, we all know deep down that there is no magic cure, and the only way to reduce our injury risk is to learn to run properly.
And that’s where we come in. By assessing how you run now, and gathering data about you and your running, we can help build a plan that will teach you the fundamental skills required to lift your running performance and take it to the next level – all while reducing your risk of injury.
Following your assessment with us, you can either use the data to improve your running by yourself, or we can build you a personalised gait retraining course. Your gait retraining course will be designed to address the specific issues highlighted in your assessment, and includes face to face sessions as well as a training schedule.
Running is a fantastic sport, and thanks to the meteoric increase in recreational running, it is clear to see that millions of us think the same. Sport England estimate that about 2.3 million people in the UK take part in athletics, of which 2 million people run. In the US, about 40 million people run. In Denmark, 25% of the population go running. So, running is popular… And it’s so easy to start: Get a pair of running shoes and get out the door – what could be more simple? But, it’s simplicity is also it’s downfall. Imagine you wanted to take up tennis as a hobby. An easy sport to start – simply get a tennis racket, some balls, and a place to play. But is that what we do? To start with, yes most of do exactly that. But it’s not long before you are thinking about tennis lessons from your local club. With tennis, as well as nearly all other sports, we recognise two things:
- We need to practice our technique and skills
- Very often we need to take at least some lessons to help us progress
But when it comes to running, having running lessons is just not on our radar. Sure, we’re happy to trawl the Internet for tips and tricks about shoes, gels, hydratation, and running form. We’re also quite willing to buy popular running magazines and the latest books that point us in the right direction. But is that enough? Hands up who actually practices any of the stuff you read… According to some research, up to 70% of runners will experience at least 1 running injury in every 12 months. According to our own survey data, 40% of runners have had an injury in the past 3 months! Of course, some of those injuries are niggles and aches that don’t prevent you from running – yet… But others are far worse and can put you out for days, weeks, or even months.
“Coming back from a running injury is hard!”
Running injuries tend not to “just happen”, unless it was a specific incident or trauma. Most running injuries build up over a period of time, and most occur because we are not running properly. And we are not running properly because we have never been taught to run. Running is a skill, or a set of skills. Just like any other sport, running has specific techniques that if learned and mastered, can keep you injury free and achieving personal bests for years to come.
“My knee injury kept me out for 3 weeks, and then I lost my mojo”