Running Archives | Page 2 of 2

Spring into Action

March 23, 2018April 25, 2018 Alex CoombesLeave a comment

It’s time for that age-old debate; is the process of altering the clocks still relevant to our current lifestyle?

It goes without saying, sleep is valuable. Sacrificing even a few minutes is a big ask, let alone an hour… although I suppose when you think about it, it is 100% worth it.

We want to help you take advantage of the summer months with this mini-guide to a handful of London’s finest workout spots. Don’t worry, our trainers are ready to join you anywhere, anytime.

Did you know?

The average person spends 92% of their time inside!

Not only does a workout in the park benefit your fitness, it can increase your well-being and is a great way to unwind after a long day. If you already have a hectic schedule, why not train during your lunch hour? It is proven that a workout will increase concentration levels, motivate your mind and help order your thoughts.

Greenwich Park

Greenwich park is the perfect location to stretch your legs, with over 74 acres of land to play with, a great chance to get creative and explore all the charming routes have to offer.

It is no surprise the park is a hotspot for runners, with a range of flat and hilly surfaces to keep you on your toes, with the added reward of breathtaking City views ready to inspire and remind you of the greatness within.

If running isn’t your cup of tea, don’t sweat, Greenwich park has a lot to offer, from great spaces to workout to idyllically located benches to enjoy a well-deserved rest.

Interesting Fact:

Did we mention the Prime Meridian is located here? It’s where East meets West at Longitude 0 degrees, a reference line for astronomical observations. Hypothetically, this park is both the beginning and end of the world!

Greenwich has long open hours, 6 AM – 9:30 PM in the summer months, so no need to rush to get there after work.

Hyde Park

Hyde Park is the largest Royal Park in London and a workout haven.
Full of trails and gardens, this park is perfect for you to create your own running and training paths in the picturesque fields and woodlands.

Hyde is famous for being divided by the Serpentine, a 40 acre recreational lake. The Serpentine is an impeccable spot for 2 mile running loops and a peaceful way to unwind alongside your personal trainer in the evenings.

Interesting Fact:

Feel like taking a dip after your run? A rectangular swimming area is located in the southern area of the park, open in the summer months!

Regent’s Park

Have your trainer meet you in the ‘gardener’s paradise’ known as Regent Park.
This park is one large inner circle, a total of 410 acres in size and a one-of-a-kind place to run or train. If you’re up for a challenge, there are plenty of steep inclines and long running routes.

In the mood to try something new?
Nearly 100 acres of the park are set aside for a variety of sports such as football, cricket, and frisbee!

Interesting Fact:

Regent’s Park is the home to a wide variety of roses and thousands upon thousands of rose bushes.

Limited offer

With British Summer Time just a stone throw away, we hope these parks inspire you to step out of winter feeling motivated and ready to enjoy the outdoors. Book a fitness session with one of our personal trainers to accelerate your fitness regime.

We’ll meet you in any of the amazing locations!

TruPacks are 15% off! Hurry! Discounted prices are only valid until the end of March

The Benefits of a TruPack:

One off payment, No strings attached
One to One sessions, anywhere, anytime
Bespoke workouts with a highly qualified personal trainer
A variety of disciplines, suitable for all levels of fitness
Fully Flexible and Convenient, we cater for your needs.

Find out more Here

Your Summer Starts here!
Your TruBe team

How I beat my Personal Best at the Royal Parks Half Marathon, by Tashi Skervin-Clarke

October 20, 2017October 20, 2017 Alex CoombesLeave a comment

Tashi Skervin-Clarke at Royal Parks Half Marathon 2017

The Royal Parks Half Marathon is one of the major highlights in every runner’s race calendar. It’s a flat and fast course with a huge crowd turnout, which means that at the Royal Parks Half Marathon, you’re almost guaranteed to run a PB. I ran my first ever half marathon last year at the Royal Parks and got my PB at another race earlier this year but I felt like I still had more to give. So I turned to TruBe on a quest to run a sub 1:40 minute half marathon and achieve a new personal best.

When it comes to running, I am actually quite disciplined in the sense that I can do the miles that my body needs to do and I lift weights to ensure my body is strong, but what I struggle with is getting in all of the other sessions that will help me become a better runner. Like yoga and pretty much any form of stretching. This in turn has limited my mobility and I have the tightest hamstrings in the world! This flagged up in a running assessment that I recently did so I knew that if I was going to run a half marathon PB, something had got to change. I needed to improve my mobility and flexibility as this in turn would improve my running efficiency.

What I love about TruBe is that along with their yoga and Pilates workouts, they also have stretching sessions which can be booked too! This meant that I was able to dedicate entire sessions to stretching out the muscles I use the most during running and I also learned which stretches worked best too. Long gone are the days where I considered touching my toes as the only hamstring stretch I needed! I now regularly perform what has been dubbed The World’s Greatest stretch (because it is) before runs and I have also added moves such as bear crawls and walk outs to my pre-running routine. It might sound strange stretching before a run but these stretches help to improve your mobility and essentially wake your muscles up so that when you actually start running, your body is ready.

Believe it or not, I didn’t even increase my mileage in the lead up to the Royal Parks Half. I continued with my usual workouts and runs. And instead of clocking up the miles as a bid to run faster, I started focusing on using mobility to get my body in PB shape.

Before I knew it, race day arrived and I crossed the finish line in 1:38. A 2 minute PB and well under my goal of running a sub 1:40 half marathon.

If you’re looking to run your first half or full marathon or even a 10km, make sure you have a good stretch and mobility routine in place. It’s something I completely overlooked and if you don’t know how to stretch or improve your mobility, book a session on TruBe to find out how. Your session will be completely tailored to your needs and you’ll walk away with exercises that you can do on a daily basis to help improve your running.

Download the TruBe app and take a look at the website.

NEW! Running, Stretching and Pre & Postnatal Workouts

June 2, 2017November 1, 2018 Alex CoombesLeave a comment

TruBe are excited to reveal that we have added THREE new services which are now live on our website and app! We now offer running and stretching workouts as well as pre and postnatal workouts.

Running:

One of the most popular types of exercise, running is a great way to improve your and cardiovascular fitness whilst burning a high amount of calories. Whether you are training for your very first 5k, have an upcoming marathon or just want to start jogging, TruBe running sessions will help get you there. Our trainers will be with you every step of the way whilst you run, motivating you and helping you to improve your endurance and technique. Additionally our trainers provide guidance and tips on how to avoid ‘the wall’ during a marathon race, and prepare you mentally and emotionally.

Stretching:

Stretching helps to improve flexibility and range of motion. Our expert TruBe fitness trainers will show you a variety of different types of stretching to target specific muscle groups. If you have an injury or are looking to improve your mobility, stretching can aid the process allowing you increase your range of movement and improve any restrictions. Your TruBe stretching session will cover both dynamic and static stretches, and develop a personal stretching program that complements your exercise goals in the comfort of your own home or private space.

Pre & Postnatal:

There are multiple benefits of keeping healthy, mentally and physically, during pregnancy and as a mother. Our TruBe expert trainers will provide a full body programme of exercises for pre and post pregnancy, and with our on-demand service, are able to workout alone in the comfort and security of your own environment. During your pregnancy, you stay toned, comfortable and active whilst post pregnancy working the body safely back to its full range of movement and strength again.

Book your session here!

Don’t forget we also offer a range of workout disciplines such as personal training, kickboxing, boxing, pilates and yoga. Search our network of expert trainers and send a request in seconds!

We’re excited about this new developments, and as always, we welcome your suggestions.

5 Ways That Yoga Can Help Runners

March 30, 2017November 1, 2018 Alex CoombesLeave a comment

Runners have a tremendous amount to gain from adding yoga to their fitness regimes. Due to its repetitive nature, running may lead to injuries and musculoskeletal imbalances which can be uncomfortable and disrupt your day to day life. Yoga can complement the discipline of running as it can restore balance and symmetry to the body.

In particular, through Yoga, runners can improve:

FLEXIBILITY

Yoga stretches the muscles that are tight, which in turn increases the range of motion in related joints. Increased flexibility decreases stiffness, results in greater ease of movement and the reduction of aches and pains.

2. STRENGTH

Running mostly strengthens the lower body, therefore certain muscles become strong while others are underused and remain weak. A balanced yoga practice involves the entire body which allows the unused muscles to be strengthened—specifically in the arms, upper torso, abdominals, and back. Strengthening the upper body and core helps improve posture during daily activities and also while running. A strong core allows the arms and legs to move more efficiently and results in less fatigue. Additionally it allows for less weight impact on the legs which reduces the risk of injury. It is also essential for runners to strengthen the muscles in their lower body for a healthy range of motion.

3. BALANCE

Overusing some muscles while underusing others creates muscular imbalances, which affect the entire musculoskeletal balance and impairs biomechanical efficiency. For runners, biomechanical imbalances eventually lead to pain and injury. Through Yoga, runners can become stronger by improving their balance through the focus of their energy and mind thus reducing the chance of injury.

4. BREATHING

Lung capacity is of prime importance for runners, because it creates the ability to maintain an even breathing pattern through all phases of running. The better the lung capacity is, the more oxygen is circulated through the system, which is most helpful for general running. However, the breathing pattern used in running and other forms of aerobic exercise involves quick and shallow inhalations and exhalations. This uses only the top portion of the lungs, leaving the middle and lower portions untouched. Yogic breathing involves slow, deep inhalations and long exhalations, making use of the upper, middle, and lower portions of the lungs. Yogic breathing has been shown to increase lung capacity, and greater lung capacity increases endurance and improves overall athletic performance.

5. AN ENERGISED BODY

Many forms of exercise deplete the body of its energy stores. Yet a yoga practice oxygenates the blood and creates more energy, leaving the body and mind feeling restored and energized. Yoga provides a vehicle through which the body can actively recover from the physical demands of running.

By Gandha Savio

If running is included in your regular exercise routine, why not unwind and try a TruBe yoga session to replenish your energy. You can search Gandha’s Profile in the TruBe trainers page.

You can also view our wide range of expert trainers who specialise in various other workout disciplines.

Click here to book a session

TruBe are proud to announce that we are an official partner of the Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon taking place on the 8th October 2017! We will be running the half marathon workshops which are held in July and September and will host the complimentary assisted cool down area on race day for all runners! Click here to find out more