A Passion for Running

I had a very good 30 minute run with Nick on Friday. Everything continues to feel better and I’m convinced it was my very bad pronation that was causing the problem. To back-up that statement, I analyzed a few video clips of me running over the weekend. The most telling one was a clip I had my mom take of me running barefoot. The clip was taken three or four weeks ago – so, just before I started having the foot, ankle and shin-splint problems. What was really valuable about that particular clip was that I had them taken from the front and back instead of how I usually have them taken – from the side.

The clips convincingly demonstrated what I’d theorized about bad pronation on my right side. In slow motion it was quite fascinating to watch my right foot doing an inward reach prior to making contact with the ground.

Explanation: Imagine following a passing line down the middle of a highway. To follow that line, you wouldn’t necessarily need to land on it. Your feet would mostly land on either side of it – although the insides of your feet may touch it. That was the case with my left foot – it was coming straight forward and landing on the outside of that imaginary line. But my right foot was coming inward and landing in the middle of the line, or even crossing somewhat over the line. The problem was that the inward reach was making my foot tilt and contact the ground on the outside of my foot – causing a pronounced inward roll.

So, I definitely had some bad pronation on that side. Some pronation is not a bad thing, but severe pronation is.

I’m sure many readers would be bored to tears of my ongoing self-analysis but I find it fascinating and even exciting since I’m really beginning to learn how to assess and fix my own form problems.

I hereby request all you running chicks begin wearing this little number while running:

The photo is a still from an upcoming Charlize Theron flick. More of them can be seen here.

You ever wonder about the impression you leave on people who arrive at your blog for the very first time? For example, I get a lot of hits from google. Often the searches that bring people here are relevant to my babblings, while other times, they have next to nothing to do with what I have to offer. The latter scenario makes me wonder more about what these new visitors think.

Take today’s title for example. my legs are the same length. That title would make ZERO sense to a new visitor.

Hi new visitor. Welcome. This blog is about running. Today’s title is due to the fact that I’ve had some niggling quasi-injuries and one possible cause I’ve been investigating is that my legs may be of different length.

There. I feel better. Now, back to my regular six-person audience (I love you guys). I just wanted to tell you that I had my massage therapist check my leg length. She says they are spot-on the exact same length. However, she also said I definitely favor my right leg. Funny because people like Jon noticed that in pictures of me standing like, a year ago.

So, there is a strength/muscular imbalance between my legs. Could also still be a hip alignment thing. More investigation is required.

I have NO idea what happened to the barefoot running interview. I’ll check and let you know.