Tag Archives: Physical exercise

Need a motivation for running?

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Sometimes we all need a motivation to restart. A motivation for running most often is a new pair of shoes. Why not buying an “ON”? Swiss engineered and very innovative. Read the story about their serious study and “save two or even up to ten heartbeats per minute” ;-)

“The physiological benefits of the On compared to conventional running shoes seem to increase at higher speeds. It will be exciting to see how this translates into competition results”

(taken from the on-website)

Run faster with On.

A scientific study by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) measures a lower heart rate and reduced lactic acid build up with the Swiss running shoes On.

40 well-trained runners took part in a broad study at ETH Zurich, which showed that, on average, while treadmill running in the On, their heart rate was reduced by 2 beats per minute when measured against their heart rate while running in their favorite running shoe. It also revealed the lactate acid concentration in their blood was reduced, on average, by 5.4%. The differences are statistically significant. For 12 runners, the heart rate was reduced beyond daily variances by up to 10 beats per minute. Only 2 subjects showed an increased heart rate outside their daily variances. With the On, most runners could therefore perform at lower heart rate levels when running at the same speed as in their usual shoe of choice.

The study was conducted at the Institute of Human Movement Sciences and Sport by Prof. Dr. med. Urs Boutellier and Claudia Knöpfli. “The physiological benefits of the On compared to conventional running shoes seem to increase at higher speeds. It will be exciting to see how this translates into competition results”, explains Boutellier.

“Many runners, athletes and casual joggers alike, report improved running times and new personal bests. The independent ETH study now proves the key factors involved on a scientific level“, says Olivier Bernhard, the former professional triathlete who led the development of the On running shoe with Swiss sports scientists and engineers.

The full study and additional information you’ll find HERE

Benefits of Hill Running

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Some interesting findings from running.about.com about hill running – which also works with hill repeats (see my blog post of yesterday – klick here).

Some runners don’t like hill running because it’s, well, hard. But running hills provides a lot of benefits to runners, so don’t shy away from them. Here are some of the ways you can benefit from hill running:

You’ll build strength.

Running inclines, either on a hill outdoors or on a treadmill, is a form of resistance training that builds up the muscles in your calves, quads, hamstrings, and glutes. Hill running strengthens those areas more than running on flat ground. You’ll also strengthen your hip flexors and Achilles tendons.

You’ll get faster.

The muscles you’ll use to run up hills are the same ones used for sprinting, so the strength you build will improve your speed.  More: How to Do Hill Repeats

You won’t get bored.

If you’re used to running on mostly flat courses, adding hills to your routines can help prevent boredom.

You’ll reduce your risk of injuries.

As you strengthen your leg muscles through hill running, you considerably reduce the risk of suffering from running-related injuries. More: How to Prevent Running Injuries

You’ll strengthen your upper body.

Uphill running forces you to drive your arms harder than you do when running on flat ground, so you’ll improve your upper body strength.

You’ll build confidence.

The more you run hills, the less intimidating they’ll seem when you encounter them on a race course. Your improved strength and technique on the hills will definitely give you a confidence boost when you’re racing.