Archive for July 29th, 2009

Last night I went to that Running Clinic I mentioned a couple posts ago, where they videotape you so you can get form pointers from a coach – albeit a Tri and certified Pose coach.

Now, back when I started running and was sucking up anything I could about running form, I spent a few days checking out the Pose site, so I’m well acquainted with the method.  The Pose site has a good collection of videos along with an active forum so there’s lots to see, but after lurking a bit, I realized it wasn’t for me:  the method makes running too complicated and after seeing how many people (overwhelmingly young and male) send in their video submissions to be critiqued, only to be told to go back to the drawing board, seemed to me to be a waste of time.  I just wanna run.

Since the clinic was held by a Pose coach, I knew there’d be some Pose talk but figured it’d be worth it for the video. My imaginings were that we’d all go outside and be taped from the side and front, then would discuss the findings in detail.

The reality was that we were instructed to run through the middle of the Physical Therapy office, a carpeted area of about 20 feet, where we were shot once from the side.  I, along with everyone who attended, wore running clothes though I might as well have had on a cocktail dress since we only ran from the front desk to the weight machine.

After we’d done our “run”, the clinic began.  The first half was spent on watching a useless PowerPoint presentation talking 100% about Pose and peppered with some meaningless running quotes and ideas that didn’t go anywhere.  It seriously sucked.

Finally we get to the videos.  The first one comes on.  We see the first of our group on the screen, running earnestly through the PT office, head totally down, staring at the floor.  Apparently head position is not related to running form because it didn’t get a single mention.  Fists at shoulders didn’t rate any notice either, nor arms crossing centerline.

It was purely and only about how our feet were in relation to Pose.  Stupidest waste of time ever.  He’d stop the tape for each of us as soon as we hit “Pose” (mid-stance) and then would tell us how Not Pose the rest of the steps were.

Oh, and one of my readers, Joe will especially love this, because he’s got a great post going now about heel-striking.  Basically, the coach said almost all of use were heel-striking, and then he’d stop the tape before the landing to exclaim about our crappy foot position.  Eventually it was like in Borat, when Sacha Baron Cohen had the bar full of people sing “Throw The Jew Down The Well” – only it was people going “heel striking” and then the coach would accompany it with the word “BAM”.

The problem is, heel landings aren’t necessarily bad, overstriding is (which was not mentioned once).  And many of the heel-landings were actually midfoot when the shoe actually hit the carpet.  That’s why I was pleased with my little scene, I saw I wasn’t overreaching as I expected and my landing looked pretty good (I got the first “this is almost pose” comment, though received a BAM, so that means I’m a loser).

Anyway, the clinic resulted in a great workout…for my eyes, I rolled them from 6:30 to 8:15.

On a happy note, I got to sit and chat with my running friend from the park, Christine (who got the dubious kudos of being “closest to Pose” out of everyone).  We haven’t done much more than wave at each other in passing, so it was fun getting to know her a bit better and she was very nice about letting me snicker in her direction.

And now I better get my ass moving -  it’s 8:20 and already 82 degrees with a killer dewpoint of 74 and I’ve got a 12-mile progression run to do “last 5 miles moderate” (as per Hudson).  With that dewpoint, it’ll be “last 5 miles miserable”, for sure.

Have a good day everyone and may you all celebrate that millisecond where you happen to find yourself in Pose.  Now that’s running.