Before I get into the main topic of this post I need to rethink a previous post. I summarized my Ironman journey as "Easy". I detailed how I approached the training and how with the help of many and good fortune how easy the endeavor was. I really think describing it as easy was a poor choice of words. In an entirely unrelated topic was described by Pastor Todd Harris as simple but not easy.
I think that was a much better was of describing the process. Yes it was simple. I did what I was told when I was told to do it. Getting up at 04:30 (yes that is AM) to get in 2500 yards of swimming before work is not easy! Six hour bike rides on a hot Saturday Morning: not that easy. Interval runs, weights, more biking more swimming more running, simple but not easy. Thanks to Pastor Todd for the insight!
Back to runnin'
Having grown up in the Great white north, saying that I learned to skate before I learned to run would be a bit of an exaggeration. I could with 100% confidence say that I was taught to skate before I was ever taught to run. Whether or not this has anything to do with my inability to run fast it does play into any run analysis. Skating was the only way I have ever analyzed the way my body propels itself. It is my only baseline. The only run technique I ever remember hearing about was back in the late 70's. It was the classic heel strike with a roll.
here is a quick article regarding the dangers of heel strike
Then along comes playtri and a new way of running. Oh the joys of a mid foot strike. The fun of unlearning 40 years of doing something one way (running), The basic form is this:
1.) Begin by standing upright.
2.) Lift one leg. When you lift your foot comes up in a line that is perpendicular to the ground.
i) Your heel should be directly under you "butt"
3.) Keep your body in a straight line lean forward.
4.) As you lean you get to a point where your foot that was raised proceeds downward.
5.) As the raised foot goes down the other goes up.
6.) Repeat for the duration of the run.
I started this post with an explanation of easy and simple. Especially when demonstrated this is simple. Performing it after 40 years of doing it wrong, now that is NOT EASY. I have been at this for 4 years and I still have not perfected it. Not even close yet.
It is interesting how much this can be attributed to physical change and how much to mental. I am not the most gifted athlete (far from it). Still, I am coordinated enough that I can repeat a series of steps if demonstrated and explained. Just because I can repeat them does not mean I can"preform' them.
About the only analogy I can think of is when my accuses me of not listening and I repeat verbatim what she said to me. Just because I can repeat the words spoken I have not actually "listened" to her. Words are simply words when I repeat but when I listen those words have tone and context the heighten there meaning.
Merely repeating the 6 steps above is like hearing but not listening. Every step above is done in context to all the other steps. Not lifting the leg properly means that the lean is not straight which leads the downward motion to land the foot either to far in front or behind etc. etc..
In the end it is the mental as much as the physical that must change neither of which is easy. Simple but not easy.
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