Meet Ben Gibbons, PT
Ben is a YMCA-qualified Personal Trainer, ITEC Sports Massage Therapist, and UESCA Running Coach, with a particular interest in running performance, enjoyment and injury.
He has spent the last nine years working with runners at his clinic in Brighton. Ben is a keen runner and avid cyclist, evenly splitting his time between trail running, road biking, and MTB.
How long have you been running?
I have been running since the age of 14, when, during the summer, my best friend and I set a goal to run up the hill behind our houses every day until we went back to school.
Running holds a special place in my heart, and despite a few years of focusing on powerlifting, running has always been my focus for the profound physical and mental benefits it offers me!
Your bucket list race:
I have always been fascinated by the outer limits of human potential.
I used to marvel at the ultra-runners like Killian Jornet and Scott Jurek who are bastions of the ultrarunning scene.
I used to watch and read all sorts of tales about the Western States 100. So it has to be that one.
Other than running, what are your favorite pastimes?
My partner and I have recently moved to the mountains in Northern Spain, so my current list of pastimes includes digging holes, building walls, planting food, and exploring the hills with my dog Sangha!
Do you prefer a hard mile or a slow long run?
Although I used to run as fast as I possibly could, I now focus on long and slow days out in the mountains.
The more time outside, the better!
What’s your message to new runners?
Start gradually. Running is fantastic, but far too many of us end up injured for a variety of reasons.
The most common reason is overuse and not allowing our bodies time to adapt to our current volume of running.
Don’t worry about time either; make enjoyment a priority.
What’s your favorite post-run indulgence food?
It will change depending on the seasons, but at the moment, a warm, homemade apple crumble with custard is a clear winner.
What’s one myth about runners you wish was debunked or done away with once and for all?
Running is bad for your knees.
Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn’t.
The sentence doesn’t allow for any nuance or good practice. It is a pervasive myth that I use to hear in my clinical practice all the time.
It is founded on old beliefs and a misunderstanding on the physiology and adaptive capabilities of our bodies.
Do you have any pets?
Yes, I have a 1.5-year-old Husky X Belgian Shepherd who joins me on every run!
