There is a nice little route circling my development that I have grown quite fond of running (and biking) on in the weekday mornings. Depending on which direction the loop has a few rolling hills and one large incline on the back-end of the loop. It has been a good proving ground for me and a healthy workout distance at 6.4 miles.

One of the biggest things I feel has helped me extend my running endurance and pace has been refining my running posture. Less than a month ago I knew nothing about this but with some coaching it has made all the difference. I was privileged to get some help from David Stretanski our YMCA Tri-Club ChiRunning expert.

It all started with some basic awareness, then a few basic pointers and I was on my way. The biggest problem I had in my form was keeping my feet facing forward which I tended to open. That issue was significant because I was already straining my hip induction muscles and I  didn’t know why. The additional basic form and posture exercises David pointed out made running easier. Strides were more comfortable and required less effort.

As my training develops and I get more experienced I have become more tuned to what my body has been telling me. On a run last week I noticed that I was rolling my feet. As I tried to correct this I started curling my toes and threw off my mechanics.

Puzzled I went for help and Coach Tom Manzi told me about some exercises to help correct this call 20 second (barefoot) strides. Basically, you run in a grass field barefoot to “feel” how to strike the foot mid-sole then repeat with shoes on. Well I am pleased to report coach knows his stuff, it worked.

In my run today I was focused and relaxed and it all seemed to gel. I know it seems cliche to say “just relax” but it is so true. That also seemed to be the issue with my strides because I had a stiffened my foot and as soon as I let the tension go, it clicked.  It has helped me in all my activities and is so key to being efficient. While I recognize that I am a novice I feel more confidant than ever before because of some basic coaching.

Today was a good day!