8 Of The Most Common Mistakes That Runners Make

Recognise these stumbling blocks? We reveal eight of the most common mistakes that runners make from time to time – and tell you how to overcome them to stay injury-free.

- Jane Murphy

1/Sticking to the same route

Yes, covering familiar ground will help you gauge how your pace and stamina pick up over time, but it’s not an effective way to boost your athletic prowess – and could lead to injury. The key to success lies in varying your distance, pace and terrain. ‘Running on flat ground only encourages a very repetitive action, which increases risk of strain injuries and limits your potential,’ says Marie Graham, group exercise product development manager at David Lloyd Clubs (davidlloyd. co.uk). ‘Mixing up your runs to include different terrains with regular hills will build strength and stamina through a larger range of motion.’

2/Trying too hard to change your style

Runners have traditionally been told that overstriding – touching down with your heel – is a big no-no. ‘But too many runners become injured trying to change quickly from a heel strike to a forefoot strike pattern,’ warns physiotherapist Jenny Blizard. ‘Your running style is what comes naturally to you, and is wholly dependent on fitness and the postures you adopt outside of running, such as hours spent sitting at a desk. Seek help to change the underlying issues, so you run better naturally and efficiently, not forced and inefficiently.’

3/Ditching your warm-up