Today on the podcast:
Gary House is a running coach and ultra-runner who has spent 10+ years getting results for runners.
His coaching methodology is always to apply up to date science, research and training but he’s also not afraid to try new things and take inspiration from all corners of sport and life.
Having been competing himself for 15 years and coaching for 10 of them he uses both these experiences combined in a unique service that gets results.
The House Running Club is a place where you can laugh and learn along with runners just like you from around the world with high level accountability from our coaching team.
Episode Outline
- 07:03 How he got into running (and how a random half marathon in Leicester led him meeting his wife)
- 10:27 His first race vs his most challenging race
- 15:12 When and if you should focus on your running technique
- 18:46 Avoiding or managing the dreaded shin splints
- 22:33 The most common mistake people make when dealing with shin splints
- 26:29 Strength and gym programs to support your running performance
- 29:56 How to recover after runs (from short 5ks to 100km weeks)
- 33:45 The motivation question and mindset shift of “why haven’t you stopped running?”
- 43:31 The importance of having mini-goal as you progress as a runner
- 46:12 How attitudes have changed on incorporating runs into a strength training program
- 49:29 What Gary loves about running
- 54:19 The power of patience and having a long-term plan
Key Points
- Going to the physio is the go-to advice for dealing with shin splints; but, even then, not every physio is of the same quality and expertise. Also, the term “shin splints” covers a wide range of conditions—different discomforts and pains. Get specific with your particular issue. The majority of the time, the problem stems from capacity and load, where the load is greater than your body’s capacity to manage. Often, the more one runs, the less mobile their ankles become. Dialing back on running sessions and increasing strength at the gym are the most foundational steps to manage shin splints.
- Strength training is not only good for injury prevention. It also boosts performance. A strong core, for example, will get you through longer races because you will be able to maintain form for far longer than if you neglect this cornerstone of your physicality.
- If you’re running three times a week for 30-45 minutes, you probably won’t have to think too hard about recovery techniques. But if you scale up your training, then recovery becomes an integral part of ensuring continual progress. You will need to stretch more and make room for downtime. Sleep and nutrition are obviously important, but so is doing something that relaxes both body and mind during the day (that doesn’t include your phone), such as 30 minutes of meditation, pilates, or yoga a few times per week.
Powerful Quotes by Gary
- The more I ran and the fitter I got, the more I looked like a runner, and the technique kind of sorted itself out.
- Sometimes, your goals as a runner won’t be about time and distance, but about experiencing a feeling or gaining confidence.
