8,153
edits
Changes
no edit summary
# '''Hard Braking'''. At the end of a high speed interval you need to slow up in a controlled manner. Slowing up too hard, or letting your biomechanics fall apart can lead to injuries. You should never hear your feet slap, and you must keep your [[Running Form]] normal until your speed has dropped to the point you can transition to walking pace without slowing up further.
# '''Sudden Stops'''. Coming to a complete stop during the rest periods of interval training can cause a drop in blood pressure and even trigger fainting. (This is probably because the calf muscle helps pump blood.) Try to keep moving after the interval; this should also help keep your intensity up, as counterintuitively it will improve your recovery.
# '''Slipping'''. If your feet slip, your leg will move more rapidly and further behind you than normal and can put extra strain on your hip flexors. Obviously a more dramatic slip can cause a fall. Avoid speedwork in icy conditions, and use [[Best Running Shoes| running shoes that have a high grip]]. (Some shoes have plastic nubs that give outstanding grip on asphalt, even when it's wet.)
# '''Treadmill'''. A treadmill can be used for some types of speedwork, and it has the advantage of keeping you on pace. However, most treadmills don't accelerate or decelerate between dramatically different paces, making the transition difficult. I would urge caution to avoid making an error and falling off the treadmill; that could result in a dramatic injury.
It's worth considering doing some interval training, especially [[High Intensity Interval Training]] on a stationary bike rather than running to reduce the risk of injury. Always remember [[Golden Rule of Training]] '''''The primary goal of training is to stay injury free so you can continue training'''''