Skip to content

FREE SHIPPING Over $75 + 30 Day Returns 

Our Stores
  • Shoes
    • New & Featured
      • New Releases
      • Trail Shoes
      • Brooks Ghost 17
      • Hoka Clifton 10
      • Recovery
      • Best for Wide Feet
      • Shop All New & Featured
    • Women's Shoes
      • Running
      • Trail
      • Race Shoes
      • Casual
      • Soccer
      • Track Spikes
      • Walking
      • Insoles
      • Shop All Women's Shoes
    • Men's Shoes
      • Running
      • Trail
      • Race Shoes
      • Casual
      • Soccer
      • Track Spikes
      • Walking
      • Insoles
      • Shop All Men's Shoes
    • Kids' Shoes
      • Running
      • Soccer
      • Sandals
      • Shop All Kids' Shoes
    Shop New Arrivals
  • Clothing
    • New & Featured
      • New Releases
      • Best Sellers
      • Bandit
      • Rhone Women's Apparel
      • Gazelle Spring Collection
      • Shop All New & Featured
    • Women's Clothing
      • Tops
      • Bottoms
      • Shorts
      • Jackets & Vests
      • Dresses & Skirts
      • Bras
      • Socks
      • Shop All Women's Clothing
    • Men's Clothing
      • Tops
      • Bottoms
      • Shorts
      • Jackets & Vests
      • Soccer
      • Socks
      • Shop All Men's Clothing
    Shop New Arrivals
  • Gear
    • Accessories
      • Socks
      • Bags
      • Hats
      • Sunglasses
      • Balaclavas & Neck Gaiters
      • Gloves & Mittens
      • Shop All Accessories
    • Hydration & Health
      • Water Bottles
      • Packs
      • Handhelds
      • Belts
      • Nutrition
      • Shop All Hydration & Health
    • Technology
      • Running Watches
      • Headphones
      • Lights & Safety
      • Phone Carriers
      • Percussive Massage Tools
      • Injury Prevention & Recovery
      • Shop All Technology
    • Soccer Accessories
      • Soccer Balls
      • Soccer Socks
      • Goalkeeping Gloves
      • Shin Guards
      • Shop All Soccer Accessories
    Shop Hydration
  • Brands
    • Top Brands
      • adidas
      • ASICS
      • Brooks
      • HOKA
      • New Balance
      • Nike
      • On
      • Patagonia
      • Saucony
      • Shop All Top Brands
    • Top Trending
      • Bandit
      • Birkenstock
      • COROS
      • ChicknLegs
      • Ciele
      • norda
      • OOFOS
      • rabbit
      • Saysky
      • Tracksmith
      • Shop All Top Trending
    • In-Store Only
      • Vuori
      • Lululemon Athletica
      • LMNT
      • Shop All In-Store Only
    Shop All Brands
  • About
    • The Gazelle Sports Story
    • Our Events
    • Our Stores
    • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
  • Learn
    • Keep Moving Blog
    • Training & Injury Prevention
    • Inspired Movement
    • Gear Tips & Advice
  • Sale
    • Sale Footwear
      • Women's Sale Shoes
      • Men's Sale Shoes
      • Brooks Ghost 16
      • Glycerin 21
      • Gel-Nimbus 26
      • Bondi 8
      • 880v14
      • Shop All Sale Footwear
    • Sale Clothes
      • Women's Sale Clothes
      • Men's Sale Clothes
      • Gorewear Sale Clothes
      • Craft Sportswear Sale Clothes
      • New Balance Sale Clothes
      • Shop All Sale Clothes
    • Sale Gear
      • Garmin Watches
      • Bags
      • Socks
      • Water Bottles
      • Shop All Sale Gear
    • Sale Soccer
      • Short Sleeve
      • Shin Guards
      • Goalkeeping Gloves
      • Soccer Sale Shoes
      • Shop All Sale Soccer
    Shop Sale Footwear
Gift Cards Account Our Stores Customer Service Careers
Gazelle SportsGazelle Sports
  • Shoes
    • New & Featured
      • New Releases
      • Trail Shoes
      • Brooks Ghost 17
      • Hoka Clifton 10
      • Recovery
      • Best for Wide Feet
      • Shop All New & Featured
    • Women's Shoes
      • Running
      • Trail
      • Race Shoes
      • Casual
      • Soccer
      • Track Spikes
      • Walking
      • Insoles
      • Shop All Women's Shoes
    • Men's Shoes
      • Running
      • Trail
      • Race Shoes
      • Casual
      • Soccer
      • Track Spikes
      • Walking
      • Insoles
      • Shop All Men's Shoes
    • Kids' Shoes
      • Running
      • Soccer
      • Sandals
      • Shop All Kids' Shoes
    Shop New Arrivals
  • Clothing
    • New & Featured
      • New Releases
      • Best Sellers
      • Bandit
      • Rhone Women's Apparel
      • Gazelle Spring Collection
      • Shop All New & Featured
    • Women's Clothing
      • Tops
      • Bottoms
      • Shorts
      • Jackets & Vests
      • Dresses & Skirts
      • Bras
      • Socks
      • Shop All Women's Clothing
    • Men's Clothing
      • Tops
      • Bottoms
      • Shorts
      • Jackets & Vests
      • Soccer
      • Socks
      • Shop All Men's Clothing
    Shop New Arrivals
  • Gear
    • Accessories
      • Socks
      • Bags
      • Hats
      • Sunglasses
      • Balaclavas & Neck Gaiters
      • Gloves & Mittens
      • Shop All Accessories
    • Hydration & Health
      • Water Bottles
      • Packs
      • Handhelds
      • Belts
      • Nutrition
      • Shop All Hydration & Health
    • Technology
      • Running Watches
      • Headphones
      • Lights & Safety
      • Phone Carriers
      • Percussive Massage Tools
      • Injury Prevention & Recovery
      • Shop All Technology
    • Soccer Accessories
      • Soccer Balls
      • Soccer Socks
      • Goalkeeping Gloves
      • Shin Guards
      • Shop All Soccer Accessories
    Shop Hydration
  • Brands
    • Top Brands
      • adidas
      • ASICS
      • Brooks
      • HOKA
      • New Balance
      • Nike
      • On
      • Patagonia
      • Saucony
      • Shop All Top Brands
    • Top Trending
      • Bandit
      • Birkenstock
      • COROS
      • ChicknLegs
      • Ciele
      • norda
      • OOFOS
      • rabbit
      • Saysky
      • Tracksmith
      • Shop All Top Trending
    • In-Store Only
      • Vuori
      • Lululemon Athletica
      • LMNT
      • Shop All In-Store Only
    Shop All Brands
  • About
    • The Gazelle Sports Story
    • Our Events
    • Our Stores
    • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
  • Learn
    • Keep Moving Blog
    • Training & Injury Prevention
    • Inspired Movement
    • Gear Tips & Advice
  • Sale
    • Sale Footwear
      • Women's Sale Shoes
      • Men's Sale Shoes
      • Brooks Ghost 16
      • Glycerin 21
      • Gel-Nimbus 26
      • Bondi 8
      • 880v14
      • Shop All Sale Footwear
    • Sale Clothes
      • Women's Sale Clothes
      • Men's Sale Clothes
      • Gorewear Sale Clothes
      • Craft Sportswear Sale Clothes
      • New Balance Sale Clothes
      • Shop All Sale Clothes
    • Sale Gear
      • Garmin Watches
      • Bags
      • Socks
      • Water Bottles
      • Shop All Sale Gear
    • Sale Soccer
      • Short Sleeve
      • Shin Guards
      • Goalkeeping Gloves
      • Soccer Sale Shoes
      • Shop All Sale Soccer
    Shop Sale Footwear
Account Cart

Item added to your cart

Access Denied
IMPORTANT! If you’re a store owner, please make sure you have Customer accounts enabled in your Store Admin, as you have customer based locks set up with EasyLockdown app. Enable Customer Accounts

Finish line tears and the importance of cross-training

November 10, 2017
Share

By Chea Jackson, Gazelle Sports Public Relations

In 2011, I ran my first half marathon. Tears were streaming down my face as I crossed the finish line. Not because I was overwhelmed with a sense of accomplishment, not even because I was so happy it was over. But because I was in an incredible amount of pain.

Let’s back up. I started running regularly in spring 2010. I did a 5k with a group of friends and was immediately hooked. I stuck to short distances—three to five miles—and started my collection of bibs and event t-shirts. When my brother-in-law asked if I wanted to train for the Detroit Free Press Half Marathon, I dove in without thought. Ultimately, the “without thought” part is what hurt me—literally.

I followed my training schedule religiously: three shorter runs and one long run each week, going up in mileage as the weeks went on. Mid-training, I started getting some aches in my left knee. So I iced. Stocked up on ibuprofen. Carried on with my life. In the final weeks leading up to the race, the pain was becoming intense. So I rested and hoped that if I took it easy, I’d be able to finish on race day.

Fast forward to the face full of tears. Turns out I strained my IT band and ended up in physical therapy for several weeks. Why? Because I didn’t cross-train. It took all that pain and PT for me to learn that you should add other types of exercise, strength training and stretching into your routine to prevent injury. Cross-training can increase your stamina, prevent muscle imbalances, and work your muscles in different ways so they don’t continuously get worn down or overused by the same repetitive activity. Failing to incorporate cross-training into my routine was a critical mistake on my part, especially since I had no experience with long distance runs.

I learned my lesson. When I did my second half marathon three years later, I did it right. I dedicated time to stretching and I worked different types of training into my routine. I found that two shorter runs during the week and my long run on Sundays was enough running to get my mileage where it needed to be. I gave myself one hard core rest day, and filled the remaining evenings with hot yoga classes or body weight circuits. If you don’t want to pay for classes or a gym membership, I highly recommend mobile applications that walk you through super effective circuit workouts that you can do at home. I’ve personally had great experiences with Nike Training Club and Aaptiv.

I felt strong and prepared for my second half marathon. I didn’t need to take painkillers as part of my preparation and I left all knee and ankle braces at home.  At the end, there were tears again—but these were tears of excitement and happiness as I saw my mom and my husband with our sweet golden retriever pup cheering me on at the finish line.

 

Back to blog
Invalid password
Enter
  • Customer Service
  • Gift Cards
  • Find a Store
  • Contact Us

Company

  • Our Story
  • Our Events
  • Our Locations
  • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
  • Gazelle Elite
  • Careers
  • Keep Moving Blog

Company

  • Our Story
  • Our Events
  • Our Locations
  • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
  • Gazelle Elite
  • Careers
  • Keep Moving Blog

Customer Care

  • Contact Us
  • Shoe Fit Help
  • Shipping Policy
  • Returns & Exchanges
  • FAQs
  • Uniform Orders

Customer Care

  • Contact Us
  • Shoe Fit Help
  • Shipping Policy
  • Returns & Exchanges
  • FAQs
  • Uniform Orders

Shop

  • Shoes
  • Clothing
  • Gear
  • Brands

Shop

  • Shoes
  • Clothing
  • Gear
  • Brands

Let’s Stay in Touch

Stay on top of our product releases, promotions, & announcements!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
Accessibility Policy Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions

© 2025 GAZELLE SPORTS - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  • Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.