Opinions on a running programme.

Palytoxin

http://www.fitfooty.com/2010/07/extensive-tempo-run-endurance-programs.html
Found this sort of preseason programme and I just wanted to get a few opinions on it. You can probably guess I'm a gaa player, but I've been midered with pulled muscles the year before last (hamstring), last year (quad) and now this year (same hamstring), and I'd just like to build up my fitness a bit more to try make sure I don't strain any muscles later on in the year. I'd appreciate any feedback or advice anybody has to offer, good or bad:o, thanks very much.

Hanley

Palytoxin wrote: »

http://www.fitfooty.com/2010/07/extensive-tempo-run-endurance-programs.html
Found this sort of preseason programme and I just wanted to get a few opinions on it. You can probably guess I'm a gaa player, but I've been midered with pulled muscles the year before last (hamstring), last year (quad) and now this year (same hamstring), and I'd just like to build up my fitness a bit more to try make sure I don't strain any muscles later on in the year. I'd appreciate any feedback or advice anybody has to offer, good or bad:o, thanks very much.

It's unlikely the program yu suggest would achieve that.

You need to start looking at my mobility/flexibility/strength imbalances and also soft tissue quality (ie do your muscles have a lot of knots?).

metamorphosis

I would be prioritizing my mobility issues and flexability issues over a programme like that tbh.

Stretching, foam rolling etc

Palytoxin

Well my reasoning was with a bit more running it would improve my muscle "quality" for a definite want of a better word, surely if the muscles were leaner and more used to the exercise they would be better able to handle it?, and even if it didn't help with pulling muscles surely some sort of programme like that would be of benefit to fitness, improving my cardiovascular system.
I don't want to sound like I'm obsessed with this particular programme or anything, and I have a good knowledge of physiology, but I think my problem is more lack of fitness than lack of flexibility, and I was just wondering is that possible? 3 different physios have said my hamstring range of motion is good, yet I have pulled it twice, so it could probably do with flexibility improvement as well.

Hanley

Palytoxin wrote: »

Well my reasoning was with a bit more running it would improve my muscle "quality"

Nope.

surely if the muscles were leaner and more used to the exercise they would be better able to handle it?,

Your muscles won't get "leaner". You might lose body fat, but that's entirely different.

and even if it didn't help with pulling muscles surely some sort of programme like that would be of benefit to fitness, improving my cardiovascular system.

It might. But that wasn't your question.

I have a good knowledge of physiology,

I wouldn't be so sure on that tbh. Seems like there's a lot of gaps in your knowledge.

but I think my problem is more lack of fitness than lack of flexibility, and I was just wondering is that possible?

I very much doubt it.

3 different physios have said my hamstring range of motion is good, yet I have pulled it twice, so it could probably do with flexibility improvement as well.

They probably tested it statically. It's a limited view, at best. Especially if your hamstrings are compensating for weak/inactive glutes etc etc.

Palytoxin

Would you have any evidence to back up any of your points Hanley?

Hanley

Palytoxin wrote: »

Would you have any evidence to back up any of your points Hanley?

Look, dude I'm just trying to help. You're the one getting continually injured, looking to do something that is going to do nothing to prevent injury and could encourage it, and making claims about how much you know.

Take the advice or leave it. Your choice.

Palytoxin

Look I'm sorry if I offended you but I think you're picking me up the wrong way, I'm by no means a physiology or fitness expert, and my last post wasn't meant as to belittle your post, as it must have come across, just came here looking for help, thanks.

Brian?

Palytoxin wrote: »

Look I'm sorry if I offended you but I think you're picking me up the wrong way, I'm by no means a physiology or fitness expert, and my last post wasn't meant as to belittle your post, as it must have come across, just came here looking for help, thanks.

I'll step in here and tell you: Hanley knows what he's talking about.

I agree 100% with what he's saying. Cardio fitness will come, injury prevention is all about flexibility, mobility and stability all in the right places.

Hanley

Palytoxin wrote: »

Look I'm sorry if I offended you but I think you're picking me up the wrong way, I'm by no means a physiology or fitness expert, and my last post wasn't meant as to belittle your post, as it must have come across, just came here looking for help, thanks.

Right, no worries. In response:

re: "lean" muscle - I don't even know what I'd post to prove my point here. Muscle tissue and fat tissue are two pretty distinct things.

re: lack of flexibility - you've been told you've good hamstring flexibility, yet your injuries persist. So obvious it's either not sufficient (unlikely because presumably your physio would have picked up on that), or something else is the cause.

Without some sort of functional screen or assessment it's impossible to say what it is, but there's a good chance there's some sort of movement disfunction (say perhaps your hamstrings are extending your hips when your glutes should be), or the lateral structures of your quads are overly tight leading to quad dominance and a skewed hamstring:quad strength ratio (as a result of the glute issue), or you've some sort of soft tissue issue (tightness, adhesions etc etc) again as a result of the aforementioned issues, or you've some mobility issue (linked to soft tissue/muscular disfunction elsewhere), or all of the above are happening in unison.

It could be all of the above, it could be none, it could be one or two of them, but chances are just stretching your hamstrings and getting fitter are going to do sweet FA to resolve your issues.