After doing my running course for over a month now, I’ve had some highs and lows. I’ve never thought consciously about how to run before but doing pose-method training with RunRx has been 1) helpful and 2) really freaking interesting. I didn’t realize how interested in the mechanics of running I was or how willing I am to listen to someone just talk about running for an hour every day.
After some knee pain earlier this week — where I reached out with a video of my running and got immediate feedback from the course’s coach — this weekend I had two great runs. Blessed with Austin sunshine and my favorite Greenbelt trail, I’m starting to feel the difference in my running. Not the least of which is that I’m going a bit faster and when I did need to stop a few times it was to let my cardio catch up.
That’s one thing I’ll share for other runners that I’ve found helpful: stop moving as opposed to walking when needed. We’re here to run, not walk, and by stopping altogether we can check-in with our body. What’s actually going on? Are we in pain? Do we need to catch our breath? Have we lost our running form? Stop and do a couple of stretches or drills to reset rather than significantly slowing down or slipping into bad form that will lead to injury. We don’t lose any fitness by doing this. It’s the same with other exercises as well, better to dip into child’s pose than continue with poor form.
I got a little ahead of myself after my good run yesterday — able to pain-free do five miles after my acute knee pain throughout November and December — and went down a rabbit hole of googling races for the spring. I’ve been anxious to do a half-marathon since my 10-mile race in November and I’m trying to figure out the right timing. That said, I know I need to focus on learning right now. Moving too fast and pushing too hard is what’s bound to get me injured again or aggravate injuries that haven’t completely healed.
I have a few weeks left in the course, so I’m committing to hold myself accountable to continuing with the drills and the prescribed runs and listening to my body as it relearns this movement.
With Love,
Natalie