Training with SSISA and how it has helped my running and some results I’ve achieved

I’ve been lucky enough to attend majority of the SSISA strength classes, and they have made a massive impact in my running. These classes are so much better than doing a workout by myself. Firstly, you have access to the resources at SSISA, definitely beats my yoga mat and 5kg weights at home! Secondly, the workouts are led by the biokineticists at SSISA which is really great because now I actually do the exercises correctly and get the full benefit of it, as opposed to the nonsense I catch on at home. Amish and Daiyaan have SO much patience with all of us and it really is appreciated! Once you learn how to properly do the exercises, even if you can't make it to a session, you will be able to repeat the workout at home and still gain the benefit. This, for me personally, was game changing.

Strength workouts are important and over the last few months I have really understood why. When I am training for something, I am running almost everyday. After being at campus the entire day, I am obviously tired both mentally and physically, but I still train after that, and it is these types of strength workouts that minimise my risk of injury and help me to keep improving. If anyone sees me at hills, trust that I’m running in the gutter, I’m hopping over barricades, running through the grass… I am all over the place. BUT, has anyone ever seen me injured? No!

I have managed to knock out a fair share of PB’s this year (subtle brag🤪), and the odd age group podium (not-so-subtle brag😂). In June I ran a big 5km PB, 20:30. July, I got a 5-minute half marathon PB, 1:42:30, and a second-place finish in Knysna. September, I equalled my half-marathon PB at Chappies – with the only damage being a toenail. November, I ran a MASSIVE 10-minute 15km PB at Don Lock, 1:06:40! With a second-place finish. And a 10km PB of 43:50 (according to Strava) knocking off almost 2 minutes at ARD, which ended in a SPRINT finish, where I pulled out a first position by one second! The fact that I had enough in me for that sprint tells how important strength is! And last-but-not-least, Edinburgh drive challenge. I have been chipping away at this time throughout the year, knocking off 2 minutes since February and currently sitting at just over 27 minutes… the sub 27 is coming don’t worry.  

So yes, to improve your running you run more, but to actually gain some traction you need to be strong enough to keep pushing. And the SSISA classes set you up perfectly for that.