A Passion for Running

Comment by susan

Tuesday April 26, 2005 @

Mark, I finally saw the videotape of me running today (done by my physical therapist). Wow, were my feet out in front. I have always thought I was good about keeping them under me. The picture tells the truth!

Comment by Reba

Tuesday April 26, 2005 @

sounds like DH will be getting busy with the cam corder when he gets home…hey I mean taping me run!

Comment by Adeel

Wednesday April 27, 2005 @

What is POSE? From what I read on your blog, is it, in essence, running on the balls of your feet?

Comment by Mark

Wednesday April 27, 2005 @

Hi Adeel. Thanks for stopping by.

The pose method is a way of learning proper running form. It goes against the “running is natural” school of thought so it often rubs some people the wrong way.

One feature of the method is indeed running on the balls of your feet, but there are other features which I cannot explain fully here.

If you are a good runner, who does not get injuries no matter how hard you train, chances are you are the type of person who would scoff at the method. If however, you are a runner with bad form (eg. me with my heel-striking) and who has suffered from injuries, shin splints etc, this method may be for you. That said, my own personal opinion is that even very good runners could benefit from the method!

I went to a clinic in Los Angeles recently to learn from the originator of the concept – Dr. Nicholas Romanov. It was a life changing experience for me so I am pretty passionate about it, but I also find people have a great deal of skepticism when I write so I am focussing on just talking about MY experience and letting them decide if it might be for them.

The other criticism of the method is it doesn’t teach anything a good coach woudn’t teach. To that I say this: 1) Not everyone has access to a coach, 2) Not everyone has access to a GOOD coach, 3) Not everyone can afford a good coach, and 4) I think there ARE things it can teach that many coaches wouldn’t.

My writings on this subject are here: http://completerunning.com/running-blog-mark/index.php/archives/category/pose-running-method/ Specifically, you may want to read the articles I wrote entitled “weekend with romanov” parts I and II.

The pose website is here: http://posetech.com

From what I know of you Adeel, you are a much better runner than I so you may not be interested in a method that is supposed to improve your already good form! However, I’d appreciate hearing your thoughts. I have an open mind so fire away.

All the best to you!

Comment by Adeel

Wednesday April 27, 2005 @

Okay, first off, I thought I spelled my name wrong when commenting.

First off, thanks for the accolades, but I actually have terrible form. Well, it’s okay now that I’ve consciously begun to work on it, but that was a year and 2500 km ago, not to mention a lot of upper body work.

Hmm, lots of interesting points. I’m bad with co-ordination, so I can’t quite visualize some of the things you describe. It does bring up some interesting points that are never addressed in “mainstream” running circles, such as the negative aspects of stability and motion control shoes, not to mention heavy shoes in general. What do you intend to do with your brand new H Streets?

As for the method itself, I think much of it is intuitive. I always run on the balls of my feet, it feels natural to me. I actually can’t heel strike at all, the change took place one day during practice in grade 11. Staying relaxed is also important, as is not overstriding. Running a lot of strides and running barefoot or in flats also goes a long way. You can’t have bad form running barefoot.

Trackback by Musings on the Marathon

Wednesday April 27, 2005 @

Jumping Rope

Comment by Mark

Wednesday April 27, 2005 @

Adeel,

What do you intend to do with your brand new H Streets?

I’m running with them exclusively now. I’m a convert in the sense that if I am running correctly, I am not pounding and don’t need the support of those other shoes.

I completely agree with your point on running barefoot/in flats. You can’t heel strike. If you do, you pay for it.

As for the method itself, I think much of it is intuitive

That right there is the problem for a lot of people – myself included. Their perception is not in alignment with the intuitiveness of this method or of proper form in general. Case in point, Susan’s comment about being surprised how far ahead she was landing. Believe me, I landed FAR out in front but my perception was not so. Pose is intuitive in the sense that it makes good sense but many runners do not have the perception in their own form to connect things. I hope this made some sense?

It is encouraging to hear about the success you’ve had changing your own form, Adeel.

Thanks!

Comment by Adeel

Wednesday April 27, 2005 @

Wowzers. You’re going to run exclusively in the H streets? That’s the stuff tall tales are made off. I would strongly, strongly advise you to be very, very careful. It appears that you’re starting from scratch in terms of training volume, but good form or bad form, there’s really no way to square the H streets with the weak feet and calves you are left with from a lifetime of wearing shoes. Unless, of course, you are very, very gradual in your running.

Comment by Mark

Wednesday April 27, 2005 @

I am ALL about gradual Adeel. Starting and building from ground 0! Good advice!

Comment by Adeel

Wednesday April 27, 2005 @

I’m very interested to see how you do in the H streets. There’s literally nothing to them (5+ ounces), as I’m sure you’ve found out, I’m sure many people wouldn’t even race in them.

There’s been a lot said about the H Streets, people on LetsRun claim to run over 100 mpw in them…on concrete. I think it’s possible, but it would have to be a process of years, not months as they talk about.

Running in flats is one thing, and running in the H Streets is another thing.

Comment by Mark

Wednesday April 27, 2005 @

One of the focusses of the pose is being extremely short with ground contact. Of course, the shorter your contact, the less impact. Romanov recommends several shoes on his website but the h-street is BY FAR the most popular recommendation made by people on the posetech forum.

I honestly don’t feel bad running in them. However, the whole thing does take time and patience. The longest I have run continuously without losing form so far has been 7 minutes. I have put myself into the mindset of a brand new out of shape runner. It is the only mindset that will allow me the patience to learn this without going into what I call “distance deprivation”! It’s coming but it WILL take months and months to gain the strength and endurance I need to stay in form for long runs.

We’ll see what happens I guess.