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PLEASE READ BEFORE FOLLOWING THIS TRAINING REGIMEN. CONSULT WITH YOUR PHYSICIAN BEFORE DOING ANY OF THESE EXERCISES.
This training schedule is NOT intended for extended periods. Reducing the amount of running/training is recommended outside of fight camps.
• Re: Alternative exercises to running — Obviously if you have knee problems, shin splints, or other injuries that prevent you from running, then you have to do alternative exercises like cycling, airdyne/assault bike, swimming, heavybag, rowing, elliptical, etc. But if you’re just making excuses because you dislike running… then NO, GO RUN!
Shin splints SUCK… but they are temporary. It’s just over-fatigued muscle (the imbalanced shape of the lower leg is the cause of shin splints — the calf is large and can sustain a lot more exercise, while the front of the shin has much less muscle). Once it recovers, it should be stronger than it was before — thus, no more shin splints in the future. Just gotta be mindful and recover properly.
• Re: 8x a week is excessive — Too much of anything is bad for the body, yes, but with a focus on proper form, recovery, and nutrition, I can confidently say that running 8x a week is not too much for the body. Especially since it’s not all long slow distance (LSD) runs. As mentioned in the video, these runs are split up into LSD, intervals, and sprints. Most Muay Thai camps in Thailand have their fighters run 10x a week, at around 16km (10 miles) per day. I personally think that’s slightly excessive, so I blended it with other running regimens that I’ve researched from other trainers and coaches.
To anyone who is considering running upwards of 8x per week, I recommend that they be mindful of any pain or discomfort that they feel in their knees/feet/calves/etc, and take plenty of rest when needed. Pair that rest with massage, ice, and even ibuprofen if applicable. And also, be sure to gradually work your way up to this amount — don’t start running 8 days in a row starting today — start off with 1-3 runs a week, then increase it little by little in the following weeks.
Other helpful links:
Hard Sparring & CTE: https://youtu.be/dm8bfDHrWMc
What Weight Class is Right for You?: https://youtu.be/zv_kBHABIA4
