Matt Fitzgerald explains that strength training boosts running performance and cuts injury risk, but most runners do it wrong. He partners with AJ Gregg at Strong Strides in Flagstaff, who coaches the NAZ elite team and offers both in-person and online training for runners.
Strength training is hugely beneficial to runners. It's scientifically proven to improve performance and reduce injury risk, but only if you do it right. Runners have no business doing what I was just doing— bench pressing. Now, if you're a runner who doesn't know a lot about strength training methodology, you might feel a little bit clueless about how best to do it, how to avoid doing it wrong, and as a result, you might actually just not do it at all. Honestly, even as a run coach myself, I don't have the same level of expertise in strength training as I do in running. So what I'll often do, especially for my more serious clients, is I'll outsource the strength training to a trusted expert. My go-to guy for that is a fellow named AJ Gregg. He has an operation called Strong Strides here in Flagstaff. He also happens to be the strength coach for the NAZ elite professional running team that DreamRun Camp is partnered with. Every DreamRunner who comes here and spends time in Flagstaff gets the opportunity to work one-on-one with AJ. But good news, AJ and Strong Strides also provide online services that you can take advantage of wherever you happen to be, and I encourage you to do that. If you'd like to learn more about AJ's services, click on the link below.
Hosava Kretzmann: Live from Dream Run Camp, Hopi/Diné runner and Flagstaff local!
Chris Thornley: The Story Behind Squirrel’s Nut Butter: Funny Name, Serious Lube
Nick Arciniaga: Running Plateaus, Chasing the Olympic Marathon Team, and Supershoes!
