Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 116, March 2019 | Page 48

COACHING
TRAINING
The other choice is to run to and from work, which
definitely beats sitting in traffic! Or try driving to
work one day with your running kit and a change of
work clothes for the next day, then leave the car at
the office and run home after work, and run back to
work the next day. Not only is this a great way to fit
in your training, but it also adds something different
and adventurous to your training. (Shower facilities
at work are a must-have on this one.)
On the other hand, if you’re waking up each
morning and thinking, “What should I run today?
Should I do a 10k or 800m repeats? Maybe I should
do hill repeats. Ah, I’ll decide later…” then there’s a
very good chance that you’ll simply end up skipping
the session altogether. And before you know it,
another month has rolled past, you’ve lost your
fitness, packed on the pounds and have a huge
amount of work ahead of you. Find Time
Working Athlete
Modern life is seemingly always
stressful, and fitting a run into the mix
may sometimes seem impossible, but if
there’s a will, there’s a way!
If work pressure is simply too much, then you’re
going to have to squeeze some training in where
you can. Everyone needs to take a break at some
point during their work day, so prioritise that time
for a short quality run. Not only will this ensure
that you keep your fitness levels up, but it will also
rejuvenate you and leave you feeling fresh for the
rest of the day.
– BY RAY ORCHISON
If you’re going to supper at friends or family, tell
your partner that you’ll meet them there and run
to dinner. Your partner can always drive the same
route you’re going to be running, just in case you’ve
bitten off more than you can chew and need a lift
for the last few kays. Another option is the gym,
as most gyms are open till late during the week. If
you simply cannot get to your run before, during or
after work, get in your run on the treadmill. Set it
to between 1% and 5% incline and give yourself a
solid 30 to 45min session.
You can always fit running into your busy lifestyle
and schedule. Just give it a little thought and
planning and you’ll come up with many creative
ways to do so. If you’re dedicated to your fitness
and goals, then scheduling training will become a
priority.
About the Author:
Ray is a USA Track & Field and NAASFP certified coach. Find him at www.runetics.com.
BODY SCIENCE
The Awesome
Achilles
The Achilles tendon is the one physical
attribute that allows humans to walk
upright and to run long distances, and
that makes it one of the most important
parts of the body we athletes need to look
after. – BY SEAN FALCONER
A
ccording to ancient Greek mythology, the great
warrior Achilles was dipped in the sacred river
Styx by his mother Thetis so that he would be
immortal, but she held him by his heel and it was not
touched by the water, so his heel remained mortal.
During the Trojan War, Achilles was seemingly invincible,
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ISSUE 116 MARCH 2019 / www.modernathlete.co.za
Y
There’s
Always Time
ou may feel overwhelmed by life, especially
in the current economic climate, but there’s
always a way to fit training into your hectic
schedule. The best way to approach training is to
actually sit down and plan. Look at the calendar,
identify the days where you can or can’t train, and
decide what session you will do on the days you’ve
allocated. If you plan your training, there’s a good
chance that you will do it.