Just a topic for discussion. I’d be interested to see what those of you who were/are top runners have to say:
This past week, I got fitted for orthotics. In talking with the person that did them, and in her doing a full analysis, she basically said that I wasn’t built for running. Apparently there was an article that came out that stated only about 10% of people are truly “built” to run. She also said that my body would be fine for the next few years (I’m 23), but once I get into my 30’s or so, I’ll simply get tired of dealing with all the knick-knack injuries that will occur. In college however, I had a class taught by the school’s head trainer who said that if a healthcare professional ever told an athlete to quit running, they should stop going to that professional (because they were wrong).
The context of this was a clinical setting, and I’m a grad student who is currently studying to be in this same profession. Obviously, I personally have a different opinion than this professional, but this is simply to stimulate discussion. Do you, or do you not feel that some people simply aren’t “built” to be runners.
For some background on me, I could not look more like a runner. 6’2", 160lbs when wet. I’ve also had some fair results: 3:31 mary, sub 5:00 mile (several years ago), made it to 42 miles in an ultra on about 30mpw of training. However, I also generally have to take a few weeks off each season for various injuries (the ones that will supposedly make me quit running) such as IT band issues, and shin splints. I also have VERY stiff feet, dont pronate at all, and have an arch that you can literally almost see daylight through. Further, I’ve never really been able to do more than 25 mpw for very long at all with out breaking down.
Why exactly does the say you are NOT built for running?. if she thinks that elite runners don’t deal with the same issues, she is wrong. Some people may not have the durability for true “high millage” running. I have seen some studies that say that elite runners have like a perfect foot strike or something like that which in turn may make them more injury resistant, but look at Adam Goucher, One of the top runners in the country/world and he has been wracked with severe injuries through most of his career, even college. then look at guys like Brian Sell of the brooks Hansons team, he does NOT have perfect biomechanics and his 5k pr coming out of college was like 17:30…good for a triathlete, piss poor for a collegiate runner. Sell went on to get 4th in the Boston marathon, why? simply put, he worked his ass off and did the things that he needed to, rested injuries, built up his millage properly and broke away from coaches that were holding him back.
I’m not “built for running” because of the way my feet are shaped, being very stiff with high arches and no pronation, in addition to being very inflexible all over. I understand that running in and of itself isn’t the issue, but getting to the point where it’s possible to regularly knock out 40+ mpw is another issue, and not necessarily sustainable over a period of years. Yes, I do realize that I can improve flexibility by stretching, and what not, but I just wanted to see what people had to say about whether they felt they, or most relatively fit people, were designed to run. Or, how those who weren’t built that way could get to the point where they could still have longevity in the sport.
Apparently there was an article that came out that stated only about 10% of people are truly “built” to run.
Like, whatever. I hope you got a good price on those orthotics, because I think you got some lousy advice to go along with them.
As Lobo pointed out, even elite runners deal with nagging injuries over time. I’d say that your likelihood/frequency of injury has very little to do with whether or not you’re “built” like a runner, and much more to do with factors that you can control- training, nutrition, rest, etc etc etc.
I’ve never been a ‘top’ runner…but I’ve been running a long time and I’ll chime in.
The fact is that some people have perfect biomechanics and can run ALOT and never get injured…Dean Karnazes says himself that he is very fortunate that he’s never had any serious overuse injuries, given the crazy miles he does that’s pretty incredible. Some other people can’t run more than a mile without pain…my wife, for example, has very unstable knees and any kind of distance running hurts like hell.
The rest of us are between those two extremes and have to minimize the chance of injury with proper training, streching, therapy, footwear (shoes, orthotics, etc), sometimes even surgery…
Just part of the deal. So, yeah, I occasionally get injured, but I’m never giving it up.
In college however, I had a class taught by the school’s head trainer who said that if a healthcare professional ever told an athlete to quit running, they should stop going to that professional (because they were wrong).
Follow that sage advice. For those of us with bad biomechanics it is a matter of getting the right equipment and then structuring a training plan that fits your threshold of stress.
Maybe you are not built for orthotics? It sounds like you have my feet, I’m 5’11" and out-weigh you by around 7 pounds. I’m sure that I’ve run well over 100,000 miles with many 90 mile weeks. I’m not sure why you need orthotics with a rigid foot. I’m told that cushion is top priority for a rigid foot.
My doc (who is a runner) says that the pavement will get me, not a matter “if” but rather one of “when”. Stay off the pavement and build your mileage up by no more than 10% per week. I don’t know anything about IT band but every track and cross country team is full of athletes with shin splints. After a few years people seem to just get enough miles under their belts that they don’t get them anymore.
I truly believe (and that’s “believe”, so no, I don’t have any “evidence” other than my own personal experience) that ITB issues are a matter of overcorrection of pronation. Every time I’ve been put it a “stability” or “motion control” shoe, my ITBs start acting up.
As for the “built for running” comment, I’d say it’s a matter of her trying to jump on what she feels will be the next “big topic” in the field. Whatever. That’s about as valid as the podiatrist I saw almost two weeks ago that told me “I think all runners should have orthotics”. I wish I had a tape recorder with me, as I’d be slaying her publicly over it.
There have been some interesting perspectives put forth in this thread. For what it’s worth, this lady was most certainly not a runner, and her advice was taken as well intentioned, but not necessarily the end-all, be-all. I guess we’ll see what happens when I hit thirty! (forget running shoes, I’m thinking elastic waist-bands and rubber-soled rockports!).
I guess we’ll see what happens when I hit thirty! (forget running shoes, I’m thinking elastic waist-bands and rubber-soled rockports!).
I guess 30 sounded old when I was 23 too.
Just a topic for discussion. I’d be interested to see what those of you who were/are top runners have to say:
Can’t really say that I am a top runner, but I’ll give you my opinions anyway:
1 Orthotics: this is a controversial area in itself. Search some of the old posts on ST and you’ll see experts who do not believe in them. If here are issues with your feet there may be some training you can do to improve their flexibility.
2 Not “built” to run: who really is? Everyone will suffer wear and tear with overtraining. They key is to taylor you training around what works best for you. You are always going to find people who will very authoritatively tell you what you should or should not do. This is not an exact science, and opinions are just opinions, and nothing more.
Shin Splints: Shin splints really limited my running for several years until I found a way to beat them. What worked for me was a methodical strength training program directed at the tibialis anterior (the muscle that flexes the foot) APEC makes a machine that isolated the muscle and really allow you to strengthen it. http://www.apecsports.com/main.htm
No pronation: are you a forefoot/midfoot striker or a heel striker?
You would never hear a runner tell you that you were not built to be a runner. People were made to run, how do you think we hunted and gathered in ancient days? that is NOT to say that early man didnt have any injuries, im sure they did (although, with no pavement and a running/hiking base built up from childhood injuries could have been less.) When you think about how cars and pavement are relatively new things on the planet and people are relatively old around here, Running was the origional mode of rapid transportation. Seriously, read why we run, it changed my perspective on the entire issue, also, the author was the US 100k ultra marathon champion in 1982…at the age of 40, or 42 or something like that.