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When Running isn’t Running
July 30, 2010 by Jen Waak
I used to be a runner (although I use that term loosely), but for all practical purposes hung up my running shoes at least 5 years ago. So, last night when I mentioned to a colleague that I was going for a run, he responded somewhat bemused, “I didn’t know you run?” To which I responded, “I don’t.”
Or, I guess since I have twice in the past week, I am going to have to change that response.
But, the funny thing is that I don’t think of it as running anymore. I think of it as training and practice for my Kilimanjaro climb. And that has made all of the difference.
Now, when I go out, instead of focusing on how many miles are left, I’m focusing on my breathing, on my foot strike, how smooth my gait feels, how well my eyes are focusing, how fresh I feel as I run. I also no longer really focus on distance, I stop when my body starts telling me (via form) that I need to be done.
- Breathing. As much as possible I’m trying to do nasal breathing for both the inhale and the exhale (at a minimum, on the inhale). It helps the body maintain a more even O2/CO2 balance as compared to mouth breathing.
- Foot strike and gait. I want to feel as fluid and even as possible. If I start hitting the ground flat-footed or my bi-lateral rhythm becomes uneven, it’s time to stop and do a drill so I can reset.
- Eyes. When my body gets stressed out, my eyes stop focusing correctly and I lose depth perception. It goes without saying that losing depth perception while moving is a BAD thing. So, if I lose it, I stop and do some vision drills to reset.
- Tempo runs and fartleks. Pushing yourself is always fun, so I’m throwing in some tempo runs and fartleks. Getting this pseudo-interval work in will help me with the strain of Kilimanjaro and better prepare me for the hike. Plus, they are really just fun. However, I always make sure I’m feeling fresh, breathing well, and running well before I up the pace. No point in straining an already-broken body!
This change in my mindset has made my runs actually (gasp!) enjoyable. It’s a skill I get to work on and improve upon.
What do you look for in yourself when you run?
Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikebaird
Lord I wish I could slow down and smell the roses…I tend to hit my runs the same way every time…a little harder than medium. I like the feeling of working. I think that you’re on to something tho’, focusing on something other than the running itself. I usually don’t think about distance or time. It’s always predetermined. But I think I will try to focus on something else. I like the breathing tip, I didn’t know that and I tend to breath through my mouth. Nasal breathing will give me something to focus on and might slow me down a little.
Thanks for getting me to think about it!
Yolanda,
Glad I could provide some food for thought.
The change in breathing should slow you down. It will likely feel weird the first few times, but then it will sort itself out, and your running will actually start feeling BETTER.
Just found your site as I surf the net looking for good information. Hey, btw, you have good information.
For the record, I am definitely NOT a runner! However, I do enjoy basketball and martial arts and like economy and efficiency of movement in all physical expression.
I am a physical therapist who tries to stress these same principles to my patients and their care givers.
Our mental decisions and our physical actions are the only things in this world that we have direct control over. Our lives are optimized when we learn to be aware of, and then control both.
Excellent blog.
Thanks, Bryan, your comments mean a lot. I work hard at providing useful, usable, practical information for people. I know that I have become a lot happier and a lot healthier once I started moving more, moving better, and accepted that all I could really do is master my domain. The rest is largely out of my hands.
Hope you stop by again!