19/02/2026
As the weather starts to lighten and runners start to think about their spring and summer races, they start to increase their mileage.
But with this often comes pain and injury. So how can we do this safely without getting injured.
The longer you run for, the longer your joints have to cope with the constant forces of running, and the stronger the muscles need to be to cope with this.
All runners should be doing some level of strength training in the gym, but if your aim is a marathon or Ultra marathon, you need this strength to get into endurance levels.
Many people use the standard 3 sets of 10 or 12 reps when performing their strength exercises, but if you want your muscles to be stronger for longer, LOWER the weight and INCREASE the reps. Be doing 20 or even 30 reps per set.
Similarly, don't increase your MILEAGE and SPEED at the same time. Either work on a slow increase of mileage each week, OR focus on speed. The faster you run, the more force goes through your joints and the more likely you are to get an injury.
Muscles need time to adapt to either distance increases or speed increases, so keep it slow, uniformed and progressive.
If you need any help with your running training, get in touch and we can help.
📞 07917 301410
💻 www.reingeclinic.co.uk