TUESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2016

I often get the question. I suspect most dedicated runners do, too.

"Isn't running bad for your knees?" Or your feet or your hips?

Likewise, as a triathlete I hear, "Isn't biking bad for your knees" and "Isn't swimming bad for your shoulders?"

The inquirers are well intended and, yes, some runners and bikers have knee issues and some swimmers have shoulder problems.

But these injuries are mostly a result of three problems:

Bad form. The athlete is running or biking or swimming in a way that causes injury. For a biker this can be a bad bike fit. For a runner this can be over-striding.

Uncorrected bio-mechanical issues. The athlete has physical traits (such as a runner who over-pronates) for which no correction has been made (such as shoes that provide support).

Over use. Athletes are much more prone to injury when they train beyond their level of fitness and past limits. (For example, at tonight's track workout one runner wisely cut it short when his ankle started hurting - his weekend training had consisted of two challenging runs. The curves on the track exacerbated his soreness.)

Our sports are not "bad" for us. I contend that if you are bio-mechanically correct - or you adjust for what is not correct - have good form and don't over do it relative to your level of sport-specific fitness, running and biking and swimming are good for you, physically and mentally.

I am fortunate that my running form is almost neutral, thanks to bike-whisperer Rich Ducar I have a great bike fit that has let me ride thousands of miles without injury (save destroying my shoulder in a crash! No worry - it was reconstructed.) and decent enough swimming form that I have not had shoulder issues.

So when I get the question, "Isn't it bad for your knees?" I am tempted to impolitely answer, "Not yet. But I've only run 31,800 miles in the last 55 years. That's just the equivalent of 11.34 times across the US and 1.25 times around the world. Ask me next year!"