Running Pain Free
When I first decided to get my act together and start getting healthy. I decided it was time to exercise. Typically, I join a gym, go a few times then get busy go on and off for a few months, if it even lasted that long. So I decided my plan needed to be very easy to execute. Something right from my house, and not involving any other gadgets. Now to be fair, I hated the idea of running more than anything, mostly the idea of the pain, but I knew it was something foolproof.
So off I went, I found a 5k loop from my front door that was quite and even on the local trails. You know, one of the reasons you buy a house in a certain neighborhood...
I was up well over 50 pounds from my early 20's and it was time to change things. I timed myself on every walk/jog and was determined to get just a tiny bit better than yesterday. The plan worked for close to 2 years. Without changing all that much, I lost over 25 pounds. The problem was I had more and more discomfort in my ankle and low back from running. What was the point of getting into shape if I was going to be in even more pain?!
Well I decided I had gotten a solid routine going and it was time to do something I enjoyed more. So I started mountain biking instead. It wasn't until several years later when someone asked my why I stopped running that I finally found a hidden secret of running pain free. I just figured crazy people that liked pain ran, and the rest of us got fat, or you know, found something else. Anyway, he mentioned a book, this one you actually have to read. I tried listening to it, but you need the pictures and checklist to make any sense of it. The book is called The Running Revolution: How to Run Faster, Farther, and Injury-Free--for Life
I'll try to give you a little overview, instead of slamming your heal into the ground with every step, or buy expensive shoes to try to protect your feet, land on your forefoot (toes). Mentally I try to land right around the pinky toe. You don't take nearly as big of a step to accomplish this. AND you fall forward and allow your natural reaction to catch you with each step, instead of throwing your foot out in front of you.
If you actually watch a 2 year old run bare foot (I have young kids) this is how they run. If you watch some of the fastest runners in the world, this is also what they do, but you better have time lapse.
Either way, I've been doing this for almost a year now, and been totally pain free. I love the option of going for a quick run first thing in the morning, that way I know I'll get it in!