On Wednesday the 28th January we were invited to Hyre, a gym in Redcliffe, to contribute to a running workshop they were putting on for their members. I delivered the workshop with Bryony and Lewis who founded the to make consistent training easy through structured sessions designed to fit around busy lifestyles. My contribution centred around running biomechanics, gait analysis and running footwear.

It always touches me when we are invited to deliver sessions like these as it reminds me we must be doing something right and making an impact in the local Bristol running to be identified as reliable, knowledgeable and trustworthy speakers.

Bryony kicked the workshop off with a physio’s perspective on running. She is a Sports Therapist and Rehabilitator who co-owns Hyre but also has her own physiotherapy clinic at the gym under the name Body Logic. As the workshop was running-focused she began by outlining the top three running injuries she sees in her clinic. This was followed by a deep dive into plantar fasciitis, hamstring strains and Achilles tendinopathy. She identified three areas we can focus on to avoid these common injuries and demonstrated practical activation exercises to strengthen key muscle groups. Finally she demonstrated an example of an effective warm up that can be used before a run.

Next up was Lewis who gave an overview of important considerations from his perspective as a personal trainer, life coach and nutritionist. He outlined what a training block should look like when building up towards a race and how the strength & conditioning and nutrition sides are very important aspects to get there but there needs to be one key focus per training block. This was followed by a deeper dive into nutrition considerations and developing a strong mindset.

I finished the workshop from the perspective of a “running specialist” (they’re words not mine!). I started with a very brief overview of feet biomechanics, pronation and gait analysis to provide an understanding of how we move and why it is important to know your gait and movement style in order to move comfortably and reduce the chances of injury. Next I outlined some different types of running shoes and the importance of figuring out what is the most suitable type of footwear for your needs and gait. This led me nicely into briefly considering some of the other key bits of kit to think about when running and training such as socks and clothing. Finally I gave a quick shoutout to Kinisi Run Hub and how we help people find the best footwear for them.

Thank you very much to Bryony and Lewis from Hyre for inviting us to contribute to their running workshop and thank you to all the gym members who attended the event and listened to what we had to say!