Perhaps your Achilles is feeling sore again, your knee is grumbling after longer runs, or that hamstring you’ve been managing all season is becoming increasingly noticeable.
And perhaps you’re wondering: why now?
You’re doing the same sport you’ve been doing all season, so why is something that seemed under control a few months ago suddenly becoming a problem?
Is it simply that you're doing too much? Sometimes. Training load is an important part of the picture, particularly towards the end of a long season when fatigue has accumulated.
But what else has changed?
If your running volume stays high while your strength work gradually drops away, has your capacity to tolerate that load changed?
Running places repetitive load through your muscles, tendons and joints. Strength training is one way of increasing your capacity to handle that load.
So should you just start lifting heavy again? Not necessarily.
If you’re still racing, the goal may simply be to maintain strength without creating unnecessary fatigue. Short, targeted sessions can often achieve this.
If you’ve finished racing, the off-season is a different opportunity. You can progressively build strength, address areas you’ve neglected and improve your capacity before training volume increases again.
Don’t assume that simply stopping running for a few weeks will make an old niggle disappear. Rest alone often doesn’t solve these problems and we see athletes taking a few weeks out and then struggling to get back into regular training as they haven’t addressed the underlying cause of the symptoms.
Find Podium Physiotherapy on RLS
Podium Physiotherapy is an RLS Partner. From gym injuries and running-related pain to shoulder, hip, knee and back problems, its highly specialist physiotherapists help active people recover from injury and perform at their best. With over 20 years of combined clinical experience, the team provides expert assessment, hands-on treatment and tailored rehabilitation programmes, plus a dedicated Running Clinic using slow-motion video analysis. Run Love Sprint members can find Podium Physiotherapy in RLS Rewards, along with an exclusive member offer.
