Why I wrote AMAZON Best Seller ‘You CAN Run Pain Free!’
THE BACKGROUND
The world is in the middle of what trend analysts are referring to as the second worldwide running boom and as a result running injuries are all too common.
Footpaths and fun runs have exploded with a massive surge in people running for recreation and to compete in running events. There are now fun runs, trail runs, colour runs, stair climbs, marathons, obstacle races, and even ultra-marathons for the bravest of souls.
Estimates are that 200 million people have taken to running as means of recreation and sport in the last five to ten years. In fact more people are running across the globe now than at any time in history. On our own home soil the number of Australian’s participating in some level of running or jogging as a means of physical activity has almost doubled since 2005 (1).
WHY THE SECOND RUNNING BOOM?
There are several key drivers that have been identified that are responsible for the current worldwide boom. These drivers include: an increase in the number of women running, the creation of new road and novel running events, the appeal of the half marathon as a fitness challenge, the time efficiency of running for fitness, and of course the social aspect of running with friends.
The health benefits of running are well established. In fact scientific research has recently proven that compared to non-runners, runners had a staggering 45 to 50% reduced chance of dying from cardiovascular disease. This was a very large study that included over 55,000 subjects. This same study revealed that runners had an additional three-years of life expectancy to enjoy, compared with the non-runners (2).
THE PLAGUE OF RUNNING INJURIES
However of concern is that the incidence of running injuries is very high among runners. And quite simply the many known health benefits are not available to the injured runner. According to research a very large bulk of runners will end up injured in any given year. In fact the incidence rate for annual running injuries has been reported to be as high as 92.4 per cent (3).
As a physiotherapist with almost 10 years of experience treating thousands of injured runners, my observations from clinical practice match the high percentage of injuries reported in the scientific literature. Personally as an aspiring junior triathlete I experienced an enormous number of running related injuries before discovering the steps to pain free running that I share in my book many years later, as a physiotherapist returning to the sport of running.
THE MISTAKEN BELIEF
Sadly many runners believe and wrongfully accept that succumbing to injury must be a normal part of the running experience. I have witnessed first-hand that the majority of runners do not believe that it is really possible to run pain and injury free. Instead they believe that if they run far enough, and for long enough, injury will be the inevitable result. Given the high incidence rate of running injuries it is little wonder that this is a commonly held belief. I believe it is a misguided and erroneous belief.
My aim in writing You CAN Run Pain Free! A Physio’s Five Step Guide to Enjoying Injury-Free and Faster Running is to denounce this unfounded belief held by runners and aspiring runners, and to reveal that it is in fact possible to run pain and injury free.
In the book I share the proven 5 Step sequential method I have used to rehabilitate injured runners back to pain free running. The 5 step method has also been used to injury-proof the runner preparing for an event, and guide the beginner runner in their quest to gain fitness through running while not getting injured.
THIS BOOK WILL RESTORE LOST HOPE
If you have lost hope that running pain and injury free is achievable my book will help restore your hope that it is possible to enjoy pain free running.
The book is written for any runner who:
- is seeking to proactively prevent injuries
- is currently injured and looking to return to running
- has been previously injured and never made a return to running
- is not concerned about injury prevention or rehabilitation but just wants to get faster.
GET THE BOOK NOW!
You CAN Run Pain Free! A Physio’s Five Step Guide to Enjoying Injury-Free and Faster Running is available online HERE or digitally via Amazon HERE.
RELATED POSTS
1. How to decide whether you should run or rest if you are injured or carrying a running related niggle HERE.
2. 5 Things a runner needs to know about knee pain HERE.
3. Foam Roller Tips for Runners HERE.
#runpainfree
Brad Beer (APAM)
References
- Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). ‘Participation in Sport & Physical Recreation, Australia 2011–2012’
- Lee DC, Pate RR, Lavie CJ, Sui X, Church TS, Blair SN. 2014. ‘Leisure-time reduces all –cause and cardiovascular mortality risk’. The Journal of the American College of Cardiology 64 (5): 472-481.
- Van Middlekoop M, Kolkman J, Van Ochten J, et al. ‘Prevalence and incidence of lower extremity injuries in male marathon runners’. Scan J Med Sci Sports. Apr 2008: 18 (20 140-4.
