Running on the beach can be a great workout when you’re on holiday, but it does have risks. Keep these tips in mind to lessen your chance of injury.
If running is a regular part of your fitness routine, a holiday at the beach can be a great opportunity to train on new terrain in beautiful surroundings. The fresh sea air, the sound of the crashing waves and the long ribbon of sand stretching out in front of you will have you itching to kick off your shoes and set off up the beach.
Running on the beach can be a great workout, but there are a few things you should know before you head out.
While it’s true that sand provides more cushioning than pavement, thus reducing the pounding stress on your legs, running barefoot on sand also brings the potential for different injuries, such as ankle sprains, plantar fasciitis and Achilles problems, due to the unstable surface and lack of support for your feet.
The small stabilization muscles in your joints and feet will be called into action much more, and certain large muscles like your quads, hip flexors and glutes also work harder because of the lack of rebound provided by sand (which is part of what makes running on sand a great resistance workout).
Because the physical demands are so different, it’s best…
