When Hardwood Ski and Bike reached out about getting involved with their new event, Lake Country Physiotherapy owner Chad Watters jumped at the chance.
The event, in its inaugural year, is the Timber 24 Trail Running Festival. It takes place at Hardwood Ski and Bike in Oro-Medonte on August 24-25.
Timber 24 is so named because of the date it falls on and the length of the race: 24 hours. Teams can consist of 8 people or 4 people, who will face an 8km trail through the forest terrain. There are 24 of these 8km runs, with team members taking them in shifts.
Chad says that Lake Country Physiotherapy has partnered with Hardwood on events for years now. The clinic will be providing 12 hours of physio coverage at Timber 24, for injuries, muscle cramps and strains, and anything else that runners may require.
“Because it’s a trail run, it’s possible that people will get ankle injuries or knee injuries. There could be slip-and-fall injuries that require first aid. There could also be overuse injuries,” says Chad.
While Lake Country Physiotherapy doesn’t specifically specialize in treating runners, it’s part of what they treat at their clinic. Because runners are so dedicated to the sport, overuse injuries are common. When asked by clients which running style they should employ, Chad explains that there are different schools of thought on the topic.
“The differences are in relation to dynamics. There’s not necessarily one that’s better than the other. It depends on how you move your body and your body proportions.”
There are three ways in which your feet can land while running: heel strike, midfoot, and forefoot running. Some believe that being a heel striker is hard on your joints, while others say that if you’re naturally a heel striker and aren’t experiencing injuries, it’s not a problem. Chad acknowledges that midfoot strike running is likely the best for your joints, but the clinic bases their care on each individual runner and the type of injuries they’re experiencing.
A concern Chad hears from his clients is that road running will cause them to develop arthritis. He says that there isn’t a lot of evidence to support that, and that strength is an important piece in avoiding pain due to arthritis and injuries. In order to prevent injury, individuals have to focus on some fitness outside of endurance.
“Stronger is better. Strengthen your legs outside of running. Work on your big quad muscles, your calf muscles, and your buttocks. They’ll then take some of the ground forces rather than your knees, which could help preserve the joints.”
Lifestyle is a big contributor to both preventing injury and maintaining overall health. The staff at Lake Country Physiotherapy see a lot of tight hip flexors, partially caused by occupations with lots of sitting and desk time. Chad and his staff encourage their clients to take movement breaks and use stand-up desks, as well as providing tips on posture and core control.
While these days Chad sticks to running a few kilometres at a time, he’s looking forward to supporting Timber 24 with his staff, looking after the runners and celebrating their wins. The 24 hours are going to be a team effort, on the trail and off.
For more information on Timber 24 or to register your team, visit www.timber24.run.