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Running to excellence

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Ryan Zeski
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Running is a skill that takes time to harness. Learning good techniques is key to staying injury free and improving a runner's overall performance.

This is why the Health and Wellness Center here holds a running clinic to educate members of Team Fairchild on these topics. The classes are held at the fitness center and cover topics such as training errors, running form, program design, injury prevention and shoe selection.

The main goal of the class is to help runners with proper technique and to keep them injury free.

"I hope people can take what they learn here and apply it," said Will Saultes, 92nd Aerospace Medicine Squadron exercise physiologist.

Each runner is recorded at the beginning of the class from a few different angles as they run. This helps the instructor assess how each individual runs and where there is room for improvement. The videos are reviewed at the end of the course so the runners can see where their flaws are.

"If we want to get better, then we have to understand progression," said Salutes.

Salutes added, a common training error is when people increase the distance they run too quickly, more is not always better. Building up to run more at a steady pace is necessary to avoid injury, runners should be building up to run for 30 minutes.

"The class has helped me tremendously," said Senior Airman Zachary Mosher, 92nd Mission Support Group knowledge operations management journeyman. "I learned how to breathe more efficient while running, and how to run without worrying about getting injured. Not only have I learned the fundamentals on how to run faster, smarter, and injury free, but the importance of running correctly as well."

For more information about the clinic or to learn about other programs offered visit the HAWC located in the back of the fitness center or call (509) 247-5590.