As a coach and avid distance runner, I'm always looking for new ways to challenge myself and my athletes. When planning training progressions this year I decided to utilize OMORPHO training gear to add lightweight wearable resistance for myself and my athletes, and the results have been noticeable.
One of my go-to pieces that became a quick addition to my everyday runs was the OMORPHO G-Top Short-Sleeve. Weighing just 2 lbs, it was the perfect starting point for introducing resistance to my everyday runs. The added weight was subtle but effective and didn’t change my mechanics or natural movement. I then paired the G-Top Short-Sleeve with the OMORPHO G-Shorts, providing an additional 2 lbs of resistance. This gradual increase was a great way to push my limits without overloading my body too quickly.
These micro-weighted compression products were comfortable enough that the added weight was almost imperceptible. This allowed me to continue training in comfort while knowing that I was increasing my cardiovascular endurance and offering added strengthening to the muscles of my posterior chain.
The final piece of equipment I added as part of my training progression was the OMORPHO G-Vest Sport (6 lbs. for men). I was initially skeptical about running in a weighted vest due to mixed experiences with other products. However, OMORPHO’s design - featuring evenly distributed weight and quick fit adjustments - made it surprisingly comfortable for running, weight training, and dynamic movements.
One of my big goals this year was a single day, self supported, circumnavigation of Mt. Rainier, a 45-mile route that features almost 10,000 feet of elevation gain. I used OMORPHO’s suite of weighted trainer tools to increase my ability to effectively hill climb and be more capable of absorbing impact. I felt that the added resistance was helpful in preparing my body to handle the rugged terrain, altitude, and significant amount of vertical gain and loss over the course of the day. Outside of running, incorporating the G-Vest Sport into my dynamic strength moves really helped increase my single leg stability which had a direct impact on my overall efficiency.
While I was using OMORPHO products to prepare for ultra-distance and trail running the principles can apply to races of any distance and runners at all stages of their athletic journey.
Sample Workout
Here are some workouts I found particularly effective:
- Endurance: 30 – 60 minutes @ Easy Pace in G-Top and G-Shorts
- Hill Power: 10 x 1 minute @ Tempo on 3-5% Incline in G-Vest Sport and G-Shorts
- Speed Generation: 10 x 100 meters @ Mile pace in G-Vest Sport
- Power Hiking: 30 – 60 min hike @ 15% incline in G-Vest Sport, G-Top, and G-Shorts