learning how to run

running is something that we've all done soon after we started walking.  Once we were able to figure out how to get from one place to another quickly, we did.  But it's not like riding a bike, where our parents held the back of the seat until we got enough confidence for them to let go. We just ran.  But what if you run "wrong".

Rewind back a few months, to my struggles with shoes, shin splints, and later stress fractures. After doing my second gait analysis, my chiro told me that he was going to have another doctor/masters runner review my video to get his opinion.

We run a little differently on a treadmill when compared to being outside, and during my gait analysis, I wasn't told what pace to use, so I probably wasn't going my normal outside pace, so I think the "wrongness" of my running was exaggerated.  We had reviewed the tape together, looking at my pronation, my heel-striking, and my gait in general, but this is me; this is how I run.  Never been taught otherwise.

He showed me bits and pieces of a DVD that he had by a Dr. Romanov, who developed the Pose Method of running.  *disclaimer* Please understand that with this post, I am not trying to convince or sway anyone that this is the "correct way" or the "only way".  I am trying this for myself, and blogging about my experience... *disclaimer done*

Shortly after that visit, I ordered the book.  While I thought about reading it during my recovery, reading a book about running techniques while not being able to run would have been driven me crazy, and would have served little purpose as i would not have been able to practice any of the drills or anything anyway.  So I recently picked it up.

While you never want to be told you suck at something, I pretty much came to that conclusion. There's a page near the back of the book which shows common errors, and yep, there I am #2. Keep in mind, I've seen me run... so I have a pretty good visual. The listing of injuries associated with my "running style?"  Shin splints, and stress fractures.  

So I have 2 choices.  Continue running the "way I run" and risk continuing to injure myself, or use this knowledge and continue striving to be better. Knowledge is power right?

I've been practising the drills he recommends and uses to explain his method, and on this morning's run, I tried to be much more aware of running.  Aware of my muscles, my landing (more of the ball of my foot than the heel), my body positioning, most importantly, making sure I wasn't swinging my leg forward from the knee, landing with a straight leg.  This will not be an immediate change, and until/if this becomes second-nature, it will certainly require concentration, work, and practice.  

This morning I ran partially on a trail. I know the trail continues much further than I went today, but I can't seem to find it! LOL I get to a dead-end, a set of stairs, which takes me to a church parking lot.  There's a sign showing the trail, but no indication of where to get the connection. So rather than waste a bunch of time running aimlessly, I finished my run on sidewalk/road.  I felt great! Got home, stretched out, and synced the Garmin, and realized that since my return, today's run was the fastest but I didn't feel like I was working any harder, and I felt great. There was an interesting paragraph he wrote about the amount of time you're on the ground, and that with landing on a straight leg, i'm essentially applying the brakes, slowing myself down. Makes sense. Something to be said for change i suppose. Will see how this continues.  Have a great week!