A Candid Discussion About Fitness for Hiking, Backpacking, and Hillwalking With One of the Most Down-to-Earth Fitness Authors on the Net
hint: there is some good stuff in this interview for non-hikers, too!
Today, I’d like to introduce you to Chris Highcock, whose work I’ve followed for several years now. Chris is a fitness guy through-and-through, but he’s also an author, blogger, and health and fitness researcher who has a knack for providing clarity to the latest research and trending topics.
I’ve always appreciated Chris’s work because he has a way of bringing the many extreme viewpoints that circulate the internet into a more balanced perspective – a rare and valuable skill to have in the health and fitness community. In fact, Chris’s Conditioning Research site was near the top of my list of best bloggers to watch in 2010, and if I had a 2013 list, his site would be right up there, too.
Needless to say, Chris has an invaluable perspective that most in the fitness industry don’t, which is exactly why I wanted to introduce you to him here. Today’s agenda involves a discussion mostly about health, fitness, and strength training as they relate to hiking, backpacking, and hillwalking, which as you’ll soon find out, are topics that are near and dear to Chris’s heart. But there’s a lot more here than meets the eye, and I’d dare say, that practically everyone who reads this will come away with at least one golden nugget that they can put into practice. Oh, and you’ll learn why wearing a kilt may help you improve your workout performance.
So, let’s dive right in.
Continue reading Interview with Chris Highcock about Fitness, Strength, and Becoming HillFit
A Quick Primer On How Running Is Supposed To Be + A Short Exposé On How To Run Properly
All right. Let’s get one thing straight. I’m not saying you’re a dummy, but I am saying that some runners, out there, do dumb things – but not you! We cool? Cool.
Now, let’s face it. Running is a pretty simple activity. Just put one foot in front of the other, as the old saying goes. But somehow we’ve managed to severely over-complicate this fundamentally-human, natural movement skill. And we’re paying the price for it – in spades. No matter what research you look at, injury rates among runners are at absolutely absurd levels – to the point where I actually catch myself doubting the brilliance of the human race. But I don’t dwell on it, and fortunately, there is other evidence out there to the contrary. Thank God.
Now, if we could travel back to science class, something we learned is that pain is an indication that something is wrong. And running injuries are almost always a sign that something has been wrong for a long time. And so, it could be argued that 50-90% of runners have been doing something wrong for a long time. And this tells me that there are some serious flaws in how we approach running, in general, in our culture – basic, fundamental flaws that are undermining our health, fitness, performance, and chaining our self-confidence, self-worth, and literally disabling people physically and mentally. I know. Serious stuff, right?
Note from the editor: run-on sentence FTW! Carry on…
Continue reading Running For Dummies, Idiots, Nitwits, And Other Normal People Like You And I
The question has been posed in many different ways and from several different angles. Is running a dangerous and destructive activity that recklessly creates problems and injuries in the human body or could running actually be considered the fountain of youth? Well, you’re about to discover a compelling argument for why running does not cause injuries and shouldn’t hurt. Period. Despite the fact that an estimated 50-75% of runners are reported to experience injuries.
So, if you want to stay injury-free so that you can become a healthy, strong, and resilient runner who joyfully experiences all that running has to offer, then study the seven all-too-common mistakes that runners make contained in the article below and keep your mind’s eye open to the deeper lesson contained in this article. It’s true that running has been given a bad name because it’s often been associated with high injury risk, but it’s also true that every single runner can dramatically improve their health, performance, and results using new evolving training methods that are rapidly becoming more available today. Just one idea from this article has the potential to be the key you need to be one of them.
Continue reading Finally, A Logical Explanation For Why 50-75% Of Runners Get Injured + The 7 Building Blocks of Becoming a Strong, Resilient Runner
Get Stronger, Run and Race Faster, Prevent Injuries, And Feel Great While Running With These Expert Insights From Running Coach, Jason Fitzgerald
 Jason Fitzgerald – Founder of StrengthRunning.com Yesterday, I had the pleasure of interviewing Jason Fitzgerald, who is a running coach and founder of the website Strength Running. I stumbled onto his site about a month ago, and given that both running and strength are mega-interests of mine, I started to pour through the archives. I quickly realized that not only is this guy knowledgeable about running, but he gets the “big picture” of health, fitness, strength, and athletics.
I signed up for his newsletter to get to know him and his work a little better, and am really glad I did. This guy really knows his stuff, and the more of his work that I’ve read, the more I liked him. So, it was only a matter of time before I asked the question, “may I interview you for my readers?” He accepted without hesitation and we picked a date. That date was yesterday, and man, we had an excellent discussion about all-things running and strength training.
Who Should Listen To This Interview
So, if you’re a runner, it’s a no-brainer that you’ll not only enjoy the interview, but you’ll get several actionable takeaways that you can use to help yourself become a better runner. Remember that word actionable. And if you’re a struggling runner, and I’ve been there, too, bub, then that is all the more reason why this interview is something you won’t want to miss. And finally, if you’ve been thinking about getting into running, and want to do it right (and not get injured like a staggering 50-90% of runners do, depending on which statistics you look at), then you’ll absolutely want to listen in.
We had originally planned on keeping this interview in the 30-45 minute range, but it was so good, we just kept going for over an hour. Admittedly, it was apparent from the outset that both Jason and I are hopeless training geeks. But hey, don’t hate now.
Continue reading Interview with Jason Fitzgerald about Strength Running
Reignite the Fire in Your Running Program With This 7-Phase Running Formula to Maximize Your Performance And The Benefits You Receive From Your Runs
If you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always got. – Mark Twain
Runners are generally very stubborn people. And I would know since I’ve been one for over 10 years now. But here’s the thing: being stubborn is one of a runner’s finest qualities. They’re some of the most resilient people because they practice resiliency every time they hit the road, the trails, or the track. You’ll have a hard time finding a more steadfast individual than a dedicated runner. Runners don’t quit, and they don’t give up. And these are some of the fantastic qualities that stem from downright doggedness. But being a stubborn runner also has some downsides, too.
You see, runners tend to stick with what they know because it’s always worked for them. I mean, why screw up a good thing, right? If something has worked in the past, then why wouldn’t it work in the future?
It makes sense, yes. And that’s a good default attitude for a lot of things. But the trouble with this belief is that it leaves little room for growth. You see, growth happens when we challenge ourselves, try new things, and get out of our comfort zone.
And as a runner, this is one of the hardest things to do because we tend to get into a comfortable routine.
Continue reading How To Supercharge Your Long Distance Runs With The NEW Anti-Comfort Zone Paradigm
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