A Passion for Running

Before I get to today’s post, I’d like to say thanks for everyone’s recent comments AND tell you that the trip to L.A. is not as glamourous as Jon would have you believe. However, it is STILL great news for Aaron and I even though we aren’t going there to make us, or the RBF famous. Sorry to dissapoint! Aaron and I will share some specifics before we go. I promise.

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I have now read the POSE book (some chapters many times) and have reviewed the DVD at least a half-dozen times. My intention is to review all of it many more times over the next several months.

My first impression remains – this is a terrific package. The more I review the package, the more I think of it as a kind of coach for those of us who do not have access to one of the flesh and blood variety!

I hope to share more about it with you as I practice the drills, re-read the book and with time and patience, learn the method and improve my running form. I realize that is likely to be a long road so, for now, I want to share a few thoughts from the book that really resonated with me.

When you run, do you pull yourself forward with your quads (the big muscles above your knee)? If you DO, this means you’re feet likely land in front of your body and THIS means much of your energy is wasted because you are essentially braking and then pulling yourself past your brakes. So next time you run, take note of where your feet land. Do they land ahead of your hips? Furthermore, when you speed up do you feel an urge to reach ahead of your body?

Think of your legs (particularly your lower legs) as wheels. Think about the way the Road Runner runs. His legs move in a circular motion don’t they? Really, his FEET go round and round don’t they?

The Road Runner also LEANS forward to make himself go faster doesn’t he? He leans in much the same way as someone riding a unicycle leans to make him/her self move in a forward direction. Why is this so? Because they are using GRAVITY to pull themselves forward.

We are not done with the unicycle. Please look at it again – this time realizing that to peddle any kind of bike, your feet also must travel around in a circular fashion? Can you imagine translating those “wheels” of yours into a running action?

How lightly do you run? Or, how heavily? Think of video clips you have seen of cheetahs and horses running. Better yet, think of slow-motion video clips. Have you also noticed those seemingly LONG moments when all their legs are off the ground – when they glide forward with no vertical motion? This lightness and forward gliding is entirely possible in humans. We see it most often in elite runners but we too have the potential to run lightly. Part of getting there is focusing on the thought of lightness and practicing being on the balls of your feet.

Interesting thoughts huh?

Now it’s your turn to speak so please use that link below to do so!

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On another subject, yesterday afternoon I took Christopher outside for some fresh air. I cleaned up the back deck a bit and, while he commenced playing with some of the deck toys, I jumped around with my new skipping rope (incidentally, a POSE recommended exercise).

Holy MOLY that is hard work! I did about 15 minutes of skipping but I could only do about five skips at a time! I’d do five skips and then goof up just because of the fatigue of the activity. It sure is a great activity for practicing being light and on the balls of the feet!

Did you do anything whacky this weekend?