I wonder how many entries I can come up with that start out with “The Best $$$ I ever spent…”!!?!?!

However, today I really mean it. Back in January I had originally scheduled a running assessement to be done but the accident pushed that back. When I was finally able to run decently, I developed bronchitis. And then I just forgot about following through with it and put it on the back-burner.

When I went to the running store the other day to get the shoes, I thought maybe it would be a good time to get that assessment done. I thought that perhaps if there is something critically wrong with my running technique, it would be great to know ahead of time so I can self-correct and avoid any injuries that could happen.

For 1.5 hours, she assessed everything! Where my feet ‘fall’ during a run, where I lift off, where I land, how I stand and all that fun stuff!  She also looked at my whole body to see how I hold myself as I run which can affect how your feet hit the ground, etc.

She also showed me how to manually manipulate my shins in case of shin splints and that it should be done regularly — not just when it hurts — which is good prevention. She said once I get running and they stretch more naturally, that I won’t need to do it as often.

I mentioned that a lot of people have told me to lengthen my stride when I run because they say I’ll be working less and covering more ground. I asked, “Is that true?”

“Absolutely not.” She said she was glad I asked that and she had me run on the treadmill bare-foot. I learnt two things from this… #1) I like running barefeet and it feels so much easier than with shoes! And, #2) I have near-perfect cadence which is suggested to be 180 steps a minute. I had 178. “Don’t change what you are doing stride-wise, you’re right where you need to be.”

Running wider strides affects your shins, your hips and your knees which will cause pain and discomfort as well as injury if you do it often enough.  If you don’t have the length in your legs, don’t push it! Take smaller, faster strides.

So, I’m happy that at least some of my running technique is ‘good’!

Last year I improved really quickly with my running but then it plateaued. She noted that some of the suggestions she mentioned, will help get me over that plateau. “Your hamstrings and calf muscles are very tight, once you get those loosened up you will see vast improvements with your running.” So, she showed me some ways to do that. She also suggested that about four hours after my workout has ended, to do another set of gentle stretches which will allow the muscles to lengthen a bit more.

She also does a lot of physio and assessments for the military folk here and she mentioned getting ready for the xpress test. “A lot of people get anxious over that and they tense up. Try to not freak yourself out when they do that.” I mentioned I’ve done it before and I know what’s coming up.  “Keep your body loose and relaxed and you’ll increase your chances of succeeding with it!”

Finally, she couldn’t get over the strength of my legs. “You have unbelievable strength in them!” but there was a few muscles that are weakened, that are preventing me from using those strong muscles effectively. It’s like, a weak link… again, she gave me some exercises that wil strengthen the ‘weak link’ muscles that will then allow me to utilise all of the muscles most effectively when running.

Again, more exercises to do for that! I have about six or seven that I should do regularly for my legs, back and the ‘core’ area which will strengthen what is weak. She mentioned I should notice very soon big improvements with the running.

She also mentioned that my strategy for building my muscles with weights and swimming, was the best thing to do after the accident and that most people wouldn’t think to do that while recuperating. “You made the best of a situation you had no choice over”… so, I’m very glad it worked out.

While she went over everything in the 1.5 hours, I would sometimes ask questions or make comments to make sure that I was really grasping what she said. “Have you taken kiniseology classes before?” she asked.

“Um, nope…”

“Well, it sounds like you have… most people don’t ask the kinds of questions you do, you seem to have a grasp about what a muscle does, what it could do and what kind of limitations it could have or — how it can affect others throughout your body. If the army thing doesn’t work out, you should consider a career in physiotherapy! You can see the big picture in the body and most people can’t.”

Wow, what a compliment!  But, no…. more…. school… for me.

Not right now anyways, until I go for my masters later!!

Anyways, I strongly recommend people get a running analysis done. It is expensive — I agree — but if you are serious about running and preventing future injuries, the $110 is well worth it! If it increases my chances of making it through basic (and I believe it will!) it’s the best bang for the buck.