Is There Anything I Can Do To Prevent An Injury?
The good news is that YES! there are things you can do to prevent running injuries. Most of us typically imagine we will be spending many years working out in the way we prefer, whether it be walking or running. The truth is, the older we get, the more prone to injury we become, not to mention there are bad habits in form that can lead to potential injuries. The wrong running or walking shoes (especially that fit poorly) can also lead to potential injuries.
How To Prevent Injury
1. Get A Proper Shoe Fitting
This advice is so important that you’ll notice we repeat it again and again. Because every stride and every foot is unique, a proper shoe fitting will start you off on the right foot and set you up for success. We want to help you prevent injury by selecting the best possible running shoes for you. At St. Pete Running Company, our one-of-a-kind StrideSmart Shoe Fitting is for walkers and runners alike. Our full body approach involves evaluating your posture, your gait, your stride, and more. We’ll take a look at how you walk and run, and we’ll let you know about any areas of improvement that our shoe experts would recommend. Our shoe fitting is free! No appointment needed, so come by today.
2. Pick the Right Shoes For Each Workout
When you’re heading out for a ten-mile training run, you won’t want to put on a pair of racing shoes. Different shoe models have different purposes. It’s ideal to have more than one pair of running shoes to prevent injury. Here’s a car analogy. Your higher mileage shoes are like the SUV you take on long road trips. Your speed work or lower mileage shoes are like the sports car that you take around town. The shoe that’s most like a sports car probably won’t hold up well for you during your marathon, which could cause any number of potential injuries. Having more than one pair of running shoes for specific types of workouts will truly help prevent you from getting a running injury.
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- More Like a Sports Car
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- More Like an SUV
3. Foam Rolling and Dynamic Stretching
If you’re serious about preventing injury, you’ll want to get a foam roller ASAP. At St. Pete Running Company, we carry a variety of foam rollers for you to try out. Our expert staff will be happy to show you some key foam rolling methods to help keep your muscles smooth and working properly. Dynamic stretching is also a great way to loosen muscles before a run. Check out the 4 Stretches Runners Should Do Every Day as a starting point. These types of dynamic stretches focus on lengthening and strengthening muscles, which is ideal for preventing injuries.
4. Learn How to Run Properly
Did you know that St. Pete Running Company has Running Classes? These classes are a wonderful way to learn about proper running form! Maybe you’re surprised to learn that there is such a thing as proper running form. The truth is, poor running form is almost a guaranteed injury waiting to happen. Not so much a matter of if, but a matter of when. But it’s never too late to learn how to run! Did you know that shorter strides lead to less injuries? And it’s not so much being a forefoot striker versus a heel striker either. When you watch the elites race and put the video in slow motion, you’ll notice that their feet land virtually underneath them as they strike the ground. It may look like they are extending their strides way out in front, but that’s not usually the case with some of the best runners in the world, and it’s one of the ways they prevent injuries. 
Check out this upcoming running class after a group run! RSVP on Facebook HERE. The free event takes place on April 3rd at 7 PM for about 45 minutes.
Do you have more questions about how to prevent running injuries? We can help! Call or come into the store where our shoe and running experts are ready to provide the high-quality customer service you expect from a Top 50 Running Store in America.
