I was THAT kid in high school. I could run a 4:30 mile, I was pretty good at soccer too. But I was THAT kid for one reason… I admit it – I was a TOE-RUNNER (cue the horror music!). Teammates laughed and coaches tried to change me. Years later, I’m still a toe runner, although the world of running has changed. With the minimalist running push the last few years, running on your toes (or “forefoot” running) has become popular. But does it make you faster? Injury free? More effiecient? Let’s take a look.
Dear Doc, How many races is safe for a middle distance high school athlete to run in track meets? I am a 14 year-old freshman running mid-distance races. I also ran in middle school so I've been running for several years.
This week, I want to tackle, those little, weird things that happen to runners. These often leave us asking, “What is that all about”? Let’s dive in.
Since the first Olympics, when runners tried taking different herbs and even wine to improve performance, there has been an endless search for the ultimate “superfood”. Do they actually exist?
No matter how fast, how hard, how far or how well you run, you have at least one thing in common with every other runner on the planet – you breathe. But is there a right way (or a wrong way) to breathe when running? Can breathing incorrectly decrease performance?
It is a topic that in running circles we avoid. It’s controversial, it’s uncomfortable and it comes with no easy answers.
It is a topic that in running circles we avoid. It’s controversial, it’s uncomfortable and it comes with no easy answers.
Walkers, runners and cyclists are a common sight during my early morning commute to downtown West Palm Beach. Morning exercise is commonplace in the tropical south Florida heat. But is it the best time of the day to run?
In his classic book titled “Good to Great”, Jim Collins tackled the question – How do you get from being “good” to being “great”?. You can read the book for the complete answer, but one statement profoundly impacted me - “Good is the enemy of Great”. It is not that being “great” is just a little better than “good”, being “great” is entirely different than just being “good”.
Dr. Mitchell currently teaches Physiology, Biomechanics and Nutrition at Palm Beach Atlantic University. Over the next ten weeks, he will cover various topics in these areas. If you have a topic you want us to cover or a question for Dr. Mitchell just email and let us know. I am excited for this new fun and informative series.