Facilities
Consisting of a mezzanine level, housing the cardiovascular equipment; and large ground floor weights area with double height ceiling, giving a feeling of space and freedom that is unrivalled in the City.
Slim Jim's provides an extensive range of training equipment:
- Full range of cardiovascular equipment with personal television
- Resistance machines
- Specialist free weights area
- Boxing area with a punch bag and speed ball
- Large stretch and functional fitness area
- PowerPlate training
All members receive a consultation with one of our fitness team after joining. And because we?re aware that every member is unique, our fitness team then work with you to create a tailor made personal programme designed to help you achieve your goals, whether that?s running a marathon or simply staying healthy and toned.
How is Your Running Technique?
Incorrect running technique not only reduces the efficiency of your workout but can in fact leave you in danger of 
injury. If you have concerns the best thing to do is to book a reprogramme with one of the fitness team or alternatively book in for a free gait test here at the club in January. That being said, below are some helpful tips to spot and eradicate poor technique courtesy of Mike Antoniades , a Speed, conditioning and rehabilitation coach and the BBC Sport website.
Are You Running Efficiently?
Some of the most obvious weaknesses I see in runners and joggers are:
- Bouncing up and down too much
- Over striding
- Not using their hamstrings enough
- Landing on feet too heavily
- Breaking action upon landing
- Not using arms
- Twisting midriff from side to side when running
- The head and upper body are bent forward
- Jogging slower than you could walk
Most runners are biomechanically inefficient because their running technique is poor. They don't use the necessary body parts efficiently so when they are supposed to be enjoying themselves they are instead suffering pain.
The Science
So how can you run faster, more efficiently and avoid injury?
The nervous, muscular and cardiovascular systems of our body are all involved when we run.They all combine to create the neuromuscular and neuromechanical systems. We can improve the biomechanical movements for runners by teaching the body and the mind the correct motor patterns. When you want to change a movement in your body it needs to be stored in your muscle memory so you can repeat it without thinking when you are tired. When you perform a motion the body sends messages to the brain in a certain sequence. To create a permanent map in your brain and nervous system you need to repeat this motion many times until it is ingrained in your muscles and your brain.
Correcting Your Technique
All accomplished runners run on the balls of their feet. The foot should strike the surface with the ball of the foot in a dorsiflexed position (with toes pointing forwards not downwards) otherwise this creates a "breaking" motion. The foot on landing on the surface should be "light" not heavy, it then "grips and scrapes" the surface.. The knee is slightly bent on contact with the surface and the foot lands below the centre of gravity - just below the hips. Think of your leg working in a circular motion from the hip joint. This brings the heel of the foot behind the body. the hamstrings and gluteus maximus (backside muscles) play a very big part in this movement. The thigh moves forward with the action of the quads and hip-flexors, the leg is extended and the foot drops again, landing on the ball of the foot as above. We call this cycling the leg!. The hips and waist should be steady without a lot of side to side movement. The back should be straight and relaxed, not bent at the waist. The shoulders should be relaxed, The arms should be bent at approximately 90 degrees and the motion should be from the shoulder not the forearms. As the arm moves back it should continue to stay in 90 degree flexion. The hands should be held with the palms facing inwards not down. If you prefer to hold your hands in a fist, the thumb should rest on the forefinger. The head should be up with your eyes looking ahead not down. Try not to think about the movement too much. Insttead try to feel the cycling motion, and visualise it in your mind whilst you are running. You will know when you have got it right , you will be able to feel it.
If you are serious about your running our reccomendation would be to try out a few personal training sessions with Chloe Hammond, Chloe is our resident running specialist with a host of awrds to her name.
If you have found this article useful, would like to suggest future topics or indeed have any comments you would like to share with our members contact the editor on ian.hassett@marketsportsgroup.co.uk