What Runners Can Learn From Professional Soccer Players

When people sit down to watch a soccer game, they’re usually not paying all that much attention to how or for how long players run. That, after all, is not the objective of the game; it is merely a tool that players use to give themselves an advantage.

The real action is the passes, shots, saves, goals, tackles, and so forth. 

Yet, just because the running element is secondary, that doesn’t mean that there’s nothing that amateur runners can gain from soccer players. Quite the opposite, in fact -- there’s plenty!

Because though it’s often forgotten, today’s soccer players are extremely fit, much fitter than they were, say, thirty years ago. The influx of cash in the game during the past couple of decades means teams now have access to a world of conditioning experts. 

The result? Many footballers would comfortably compete in an amateur marathon race. If you’re looking to improve your running ability, then read on.

Lets run through some of the key lessons you can learn by looking at the fitness programs of the world’s best soccer players. 

Ronaldo’s Secrets

Cristiano Ronaldo isn’t just a fantastic footballer; he’s also one of the fittest people on the planet. He’s so fit that despite being 36, he continues to be one of the world’s leading players, scoring five goals in six appearances following his return to Manchester United.

If a player of that age continues to influence the tips made by football experts, you know they're doing something right.

What’s his secret? He does the basics of a robust fitness regime, of course, but also throws in a few extras. While you might not be able to spend £50,000 on a cryotherapy chamber, you probably can follow his sleeping routine in the run-up to a big race.

The Portuguese star takes five naps a day and goes to bed early before a big match. 

The Importance of Recovery

Marathon runners usually have a pre-race schedule that’ll maximize their performance. But what you do after the race is also vital, especially if you’re hoping to run long-distance races regularly. Soccer players take ice baths and wear compression pants immediately after a game to prevent muscle soreness.

In the days after a game, they’ll engage in very light workouts. There’s value in pushing your body to the limit, but that shouldn’t be your approach all the time. There are moments to work hard, moments to relax. Indeed, without the recovery period, it wouldn’t be long before the body begins to break down. 

Eating Well

Soccer players spend many hours developing their body’s strength. But it’s not just how hard they push their body during training that determines how prepared they are for the game. What they eat around their training regime is just as key.

You can maximize your workouts by having a diet that’s high in protein and carbohydrates. Fruits, vegetables, and water are also important.

Soccer players have plenty of beans, lentils, eggs, rice, and salmon in their diets, and you should, too, especially when you’re in training mode. On the day of your race, opt for a meal that’s low in fiber and fat—for example, chicken breast and pasta.

Longevity Hacks

If you’ve been following marathon running in the news, then you’ll probably have heard of Fauja Singh, the world’s oldest marathon runner, who ran a marathon at the age of 101. But most people give up marathon running long before then. It’s unusual to see people competing in endurance running races beyond the age of fifty. It does, after all, take a toll on the body.

Soccer players aren’t just fitter than ever before. They’re also playing at a higher standard for longer than they did in the past. Some of the greatest players over the past couple of decades, like Ronaldo, Messi, and Ryan Giggs, have been the best not only because they’re fantastic players but because they performed at a top level for more than fifteen years. 

So what is it that allows them to perform for so long? Flexibility. Yoga is becoming an integral part of all soccer club’s training regimes because it helps to keep the body youthful and agile. They understand that while body strength, especially core body strength, is important, the player's flexibility holds the key to high performance as they age. As well as yoga, stretching, drinking a lot of water, and eating vegetables and fruits that promote flexibility -- such as kale and spinach -- should form part of your lifestyle. 

The Art Of Carrying On

Finally, let’s think about the spirit of soccer. It’s far from the perfect game, sure, but there’s no denying that there are moments of triumph that few other sports can match, in large part because of the passion for succeeding that radiates from the top players and teams. There comes a point for every long-distance runner when the desire to stop running becomes almost overwhelming. Yet, a runner that bows at that stage will not reach their full potential, and that’s arguably the most important factor. It’s not how fast you run that counts or how far, but that nothing is left on the table. 

Your inner drive will take you far. But sometimes, you’ll need a dose of inspiration, and when it comes to professional sports, no sport has as many inspirational moments as soccer. There’s a long list of teams snatching victory from the draws of defeat when all seemed lost, such as Manchester United’s Champions League victory over Bayern Munich and Liverpool overturning a 3-0 deficit by beating Barcelona 4-0. If those types of accomplishments don’t inspire you, then nothing will! 

Final Thoughts

There are more similarities between soccer and running than most people realize, especially when looking through the lens of professional soccer. So look at the pros if you’re looking to increase performance and give yourself those small advantages that can make all the difference. After all, they didn’t get to where they are without having focus, discipline, and expert fitness routines.

posted Thursday October 21st