Articles of Interest

I know I go on and on about how Pose is not in itself a style of running but I think this is an interesting take on how to use the method in order to improve your running. It really is brutally simple, just not particularly easy to get! This is because we are our own worst enemies when it comes to change – we instinctively distrust change because we are not comfortable with the unknown. Until we can accept that perhaps there is a better way to learn how to run and indeed accepting that we need to learn to run in the first place, we cannot move on to use any method to help us towards the goal of running more efficiently and injury free.

Naturally I mean in relation to my running technique! It is a tonal quality, one of feeling relaxed yet resilient like a spring or an elastic band. This does not mean however that we must stiffen up the feet for example – a common mistake that leads to plantar fasciitis and all kinds of injury to lower legs and feet.

“Traditionally, a typical perception was that strength was required to ‘push off’ from the ground so as to maintain stride length and cadence. Hence, the more strength, the greater the ability to push-off, and the faster, or longer, you could run. However the problem with this logic is that the length of time that the foot is actually in contact with the ground, and in an appropriate position to generate forward propulsive force, is extremely short. Not only is overall ground contact time short, but much of this time is consumed with absorbing the force of impact. In other words, time spent decelerating and arresting the downward momentum of the descending mass. As a result, the window of opportunity for any conscious pushing-off from the ground is exceedingly short. Far too short to generate the required muscular force necessary to power the next stride forward.”

Linked from the UKA site is this presentation by Drew Harrison.

Very interesting indeed. What I find quite amazing though is that this “phenomenon” has only just been made public, or at least it was only posted today on the YKA coaching site.

I posted my personal feelings about this when I started this blog last year …

My “flat tyres” analogy is basically saying the same thing as the football in the presentation.

Like Marmite, you either love or hate the lycra shorts for blokes. I have worn them for several years now but I have decided to get back to basics and see how my running comfort is using traditional shorts. There seems to be quite a lot in the media these days about it not being a particularly good idea for blokes to compress their tackle, apparently it should be able to swing freely. I do think also that the extra room in these shorts makes for a less “budgie stealing” look and makes one feel a little less self conscious about the “tackle”.

I know, I’ve already posted some photos of these! I have been running in them and I like them so much I have ordered another pair!

My initial fears about width in these shoes have turned out to be unjustified. I think they will give a little too in time. The very nature of the upper is more supple and pliable.

This is something I have suffered with myself – although I don’t say much about it. I quickly realised that it was something in the way I ran that was causing it. However, stopping doing whatever that was proved to be rather difficult! I know Dr Romanov suggests that you can “run through it”. I think this may be true in mild cases but for many I would say that stopping running, looking at what shoes you wear for work (you spend a long time in these!) and looking at how you walk will give it time to settle down a little. Then put in to practice what you have learned. that is what I did and I no longer suffer from it. A lot of people seem to try to ignore it in the hope it will go away. Sadly, nothing will change unless you change something. As difficult as this may be to accept, it is the truth.

In what seems to be stark contrast here are some traditional views by the experts. I have no idea if they are correct but suggesting that “too much running” is a cause is not what runners want to hear!

The video below talks a lot of sense and then contradicts itself by saying orthotics treat the cause. They may do by attempting to stop the foot moving but with time this will get worse not better. Little or no thought is spent on the consideration of patient psychology traditionally. A lot of talk about the symptoms but what has caused it? Could it be the way the person walks or runs? Why is the foot “over pronating”? Interesting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9dfdou0hYo

I took professional advice and was told to stop running and that I needed orthotics. I did not stop running, I never had the orthotics yet my feet recovered. How? I figured out what I was doing with my feet that could cause such an injury then I stopped doing it! It took a while to settle down and I did back off on the training for a good while. I never completely stopped running though.