A Passion for Running

I often get questioned on what it feels like to run using the Pose Method. Here’s the simple answer that just moments ago occurred to me:

Do you know the feeling of lightly touching on stairs as you go down them? There is that fine line between going too slow — when your feet begin landing more heavy and flat-footed — and going that speed where they just tightly touch the stairs.

That’s what Pose Method runners try for — that kind of quickness and lightness.

It’s all about quick cadence (turnover) and lifting the foot up almost before it touches the ground. And that kind of lightness can only be accomplished on the balls of one’s feet.

Does that make sense to you?
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Oh! Remember I introducted you to Megin? Well, she’s now run her first 5k. Go congratulate her!

Much is being said within running circles about Lance venturing into the world of running.

The big question seems to be around how well Lance will run. Is he a 3:00 hour marathoner, a 2:30 marathoner, a 2:20 marathoner – or might he be even better than that? In other words, does he have world class potential?

A lot has been made of Lance’s stratospheric VO2 max, lactic acid threshold and lung capacity. While those things are undeniable, it may also be safe to say that lance has used up his best years on the bike.

Can we count him out based on age? I’m just not sure.

I’ve also read some people’s assertion that the pounding miles of running will inflict will be harder on Lance than even he can imagine and that, because he is not a ‘lifer’, he’ll break down and suffer from injury before he can attain running greatness.

I’m not sure where Lance will end up, but I think it will be impressive. My guess is he could pull off a 2:30 in fairly short time if he really trained for it. (edit: how’
s 18 months training sound?)

Why? Because I think Lance will run in such a way as to minimize the pounding on his body and take full advantage of his strengths.

And how will he do that? By having something many runners do not have – incredibly high cadence.

My guess is that Lance will quickly become an expert in proper form. Not only that, I believe he will naturally adapt the high cadence that set him apart on the bike to the run.

High cadence = less time on the ground = less impact on the body = less injury = greater chance of success.

Lance will be nimble, Lance will be quick, Lance will break through the finishing tape.

I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to see what this guy can do.

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.

Yup. I’ve got that whole ankle/leg/shin-splint issue figured out. It was definitely the pronating on my right foot that was the problem. Ran again tonight with Aaron keeping the focus (again) on making proper contact with the ground. The pose felt good and the pain I had is all but gone.

The only discomfort I have is some muscle soreness in my right foot – undoubtedley because I’m working “rightey” in a different way than it is used to.

I’m thinking this latest tweak to my form is going to take a couple of weeks. I’m way happy and looking forward to a winter of fine tuning followed by a spring and summer of rockin’ racing.

Woohoo!