Do Your Shoulders Hurt When You Run?

by | Reader Questions

There can be a lot of reasons for shoulder cramps and shoulder pain when you are running, some which aren’t very serious and some that are very serious. If your shoulders hurt, then it is probably worth seeing your doctor or physical therapist to make sure it isn’t one of the more serious problems such as a problem with your heart (cardiac angina) or spleen, or some sort of bursitis or spinal problem. More than likely, it’s just a minor muscular imbalance or weakness or a minor issue with your running form that a coach could help you correct. Here are 5 areas that you can address to see if they provide relief.

How Do You Calculate Training Zones With a Heart Rate Monitor?

by | Workout Tips

As a runner, heart rate monitors are great devices that can help you train because they let you know when you are working too hard or not running hard enough. They aren’t fooled by weather, terrain or your level of fatigue going into a workout; they know exactly how hard you are working at any given moment no matter the conditions. The problem, of course, is how do you interpret what you are being told? Having a pulse of 165 beats per minute may be an all out sprint for one person but could be a leisurely jog for somebody else. Here are a few methods to determine your best training zones on any given day.