The great thing about instructing clinics, especially for those just beginning….I have to think about everything I do.
As soon as a new round of clinics start, I have to start thinking about the run…..how it’s done, what I do, the leg turn over, the stride, how to not over stride, leading the the knees, high turn over……what to do with the arms, the hands….how to warm up…..and that one question I always get asked…..how do I breath.
I always love that one….as someone that’s run for a while, it’s not something I think about…you just breah….I’ve been doing it, like everyone, all my life…we all breath…
Sure, but for someone just starting to run…kind of the key right.
So many lose that urge as soon as they begin….gasping for breath as soon as they begin, they can’t go very far, get frustraited, and stop….
Learning pace, the difference between every day breathing and actice breathing…..learning to start gradually and realize that it’s a process…..gotta get that across….
Doing that virtually is even harder……not being able to physically run with the new comers, that self directed part of a clinic is a challenge…
The question of the day yesterday was how to land properly!…grrrrrrr…….so many have heard this heel vs midfoot vs toe strikes, and are convinced that have got to land midfoot or they’re screwed…..below the centre of gravity, don’t over stride, lean forward from the ankles, a controlled fall……all good….
I’ve 40 in this group….some that are actually pretty advanced to start with, and others that are taking that first step…..again, another challenge…keeping them all focus, invested, and happy……
I know from past clinics, in store, virtual, it seems more than a few always just seem to need or want permission to run….they’re afraid of taking that step on their own……I was there..when I first began, I ran when it was dark, either first thing in the morning, or in the evening….so no one would see me…..just in case I was doing it wrong……or, yeah, just, what would the neighbors think?
That’s the great thing, and possibly, probably why I keep doing what I do…whether it’s selling shoes, volunteering at races and events, or coaching others……I feed off the questions, they force me to think……and yes, I do want to set a good example…but also, I think what I do works is because I’ve never been, nor will ever be that first place a-type finisher……I began where most of these newer runner are at……..and for a lot of them, some of them, I’m at where they are…..they don’t have to prove anything to me, or to try to impess me….nor to try and keep up to me…in a lot of cases I’m doing fine just running along side them, either in person or virtually….
Yesterday’s talk covered a lot in about an hour, shoes finding that perfect footwear was a part of it…but as I learn with every clinic…how do we run……?
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