Traditionally a boxer would run every morning that he trains on. The run may last up to 40 minutes. It's still common practice now. Let's weight up the good, the bad and the ugly!
The Good
Running improves your endurance. This includes cardiac muscle growth, an increase in red blood cell amount, increased capillarization, Vasal dilation and an increase in muscular endurance.
Some athletes need to make weight. Running is a useful answers to maintaining a consistent weight without cutting too many calories out of your diet.
The Bad
Is running sport specific? Arguably but although running will help a fighter bust through a 12 round battle it does not involve explosive bursts of energy that is required for a dynamic punch.
You build endurance orientated muscles by using endurance orientated exercise. Did you know that type 2 fast twitch muscle fibres can convert to slow twitch oxidative muscle fibres! What makes this more annoying is that this is not the case for the opposite. Slow twitch muscle fibres will not convert to fast twitch muscle fibres. How annoying!
The Ugly
It's time to look up the health risks. First of all repetitive stress on the ankles, knees or hips can put training to a brisk stop. Running can invite these types of injuries.
Some research suggests that intense long distance endurance training causes scaring on the right ventricle of the heart. Cardiac scaring can lower life expectancy and increase the risk of heart disease.
Practical Usage of this Information
Look at the good. Running is beneficial. I've been privileged to tran with various combat athletes from a variety of different disciplines and they all swear by their running. The problems are seen when people opt for running as their main form of energy system training. Add explosive elements to your training such as HIIT training and rounds. I would recommend that athletes go about one explosive session for every long distance endurance session.
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