A gentle week, and learning about running!

In training terms, last week was reasonably quiet.
37 miles and plenty of very small runs and rest.
In the front of my mind was an intensive weekend of learning and teaching to come.

I am always looking at the way that I run, and looking for ways to improve it. And over the years I've been running, I've made various changes to the way that I run, or the way that I train, in the hope of improving the whole experience for the better.

For the last year or so, I have had contact with Mark - a runner and General Practitioner with a specific interest and training in Sports Injuries (and their treatment and prevention), and through my contact with him, developed a significantly greater understanding of the issues and causes of the majority of running injuries.
And the statistics are amazing, with a greater percentage of runners suffering injury now than ever before.
Not a greater number, a greater percentage!!

With all this in mind, and knowing that both my running style and beliefs about it, and the fact that I want to teach Running Skills as part of my business, in conjunction with Mark, I arranged a Running Skills and Coaching Certification Clinic.
We invited Dr Nicholas Romanov, the creator of the Pose Method® of running over to Birmingham to run the weekend, and he arrived with Mark on Thursday evening.

The first day was aimed at those of us training for the first level of coaching in Pose Method®. Dr Romanov presented the theory of movement, and gave us some insight into the the depth and nature of the research that has been done to show just how robust that the things that he teaches are.
It was mind-blowing. There was some very complicated science, but also it passed the 'Common Sense' test at every turn. And it is breath-taking the amount and quality of the work that not only HAS been done, but that is CURRENTLY being done.
This is not a hair-brained scheme plucked out of some mystical space as a business proposition, but the result of decades of high quality work, a life's work indeed!
It was a long day - but one that I genuinely didn't want to end. Luckily Dr Romanov called time when we got hungry, because once I went to bed, it was clear that my brain was completely frazzled.
In a Good Way, but frazzled all the same!!

Saturday was the day of the Running Clinic.
15 people had booked onto the Clinic for the day for an introduction to the Method, and a load of practical work to put it into practice.
There were a number of folk who'd come along to help out, and a couple of us who were doing our coaching training.

Lesson number 1.
When you get yourself a coffee just before a day begins, DON'T pour it straight onto your leg when you sit down.
Skin doesn't like very hot liquid.
And scalds hurt!

We were booked into the room from 9-5, and the plan was for a break at 11, lunch at 1, a break at 3 - and finish at 5.
We alternated between theoretical input and practical work outside (which was a little bracing in the morning!) - and everyone was videoed running at various points during the day.

After lunch the time just flew, and we didn't actually leave the venue until almost 8pm. And once again I think most would have happily carried on until they dropped!

Some of the improvements that could be seen were amazing!

Back home with all our guests - 11 ended up around the table :o) - for more chat and a few beers.

Sunday was more theory for the coaches.
Once again - incredibly intensive, absolutely fascinating - and completely knackering!
Even Dr R was showing signs of tiredness. But considering just how hard he'd worked and for how long, it was amazing that he was keeping going!
I hope *I* have his energy when I'm ........... older than I am now!!

It has been an amazing experience, this weekend. I have a far greater insight into the intricacies of how we move in an environment governed by gravity, and how we can use that knowledge to our advantage.
I also got to talk about the 10-in-10 in some depth with Dr Romanov once all our guests had departed as well. And that was really interesting and gave me much food for thought.

And now..... we have a marathon to prepare for in April, and 10 marathons to be ready for in May.

Back to the training...........