As a coach, I answer hundreds of questions about running injuries every single week.
The quality of these questions varies—some are straight to the point, while others make wild assumptions about what runners think will help them stay healthy.
Indeed, there are several big mistakes that runners make when they approach injury prevention. Sometimes they ask the wrong questions, and sometimes they focus on the wrong things.
When you know what to focus on (and what mistakes to avoid), you'll be able to dramatically reduce your risk of injury. I know this because I used to be constantly bothered by Achilles tendinopathy, Illiotibial band syndrome and plantar fasciitis. By adjusting my training approach, I was able to turn it all around—and I think you can do the same thing, too.
More: 9 Running Injury Prevention Tips
Are You Making These Mistakes?
When you receive so many questions, you start noticing patterns. Look at the assumption that this question is based on:
"Why do I suffer injury after injury even though I do all the recommended strength training?"
This is a common running mistake—that strength training prevents injuries. Of course, strength exercises are an integral part of injury prevention, but they're just one piece of the puzzle. If you're training incorrectly, no amount of strength work will keep you healthy in the long run.
Instead, think beyond strength work. What else needs to be changed in your training routine? Perhaps it's your mileage or your workouts. Increasing strength is important, but it won't make you invincible or protect you from poor training decisions.
Next, let's take a look at this question:
"I'm always injured. I stretch and rest but I'm not getting any better. Help!"
