Wednesday, July 27, 2005
On this day:

6 Miles Easy, Untimed, and Video Feedback


I ran 2 laps around Prospect Park again with the M.P.U. in my WB (White & Black) Nike Air Zoom Vapor's (link to nearest available model), at an easy pace. I didn't really breathe, but then I didn't expect to - I was taking it easy! It's surprising how nice shoes you used to hate are to run in, when you're actually running properly! I now like the firm heel, as I'm relying more on my own natural cushioning system (i.e. my legs), and the firm cushioning allows me to feel what I'm doing.

My calfs are calming down quite rapidly, especially since I've started letting my heels touch the ground during my footplant. I initially did this based on feedback from the DyeStat forums, but it was confirmed later to be the ideal technique by the coach who did my video analysis last week. When he showed me the exceedingly professionally edited DVD of my running gait, he talked me through it and the key thing is that my forefoot hits the ground first. From then onwards I'm to just let my body do whatever it wants to do. Furthermore he advised to only concentrate on maintaining the form during speedwork & races (especially during sprint finishes - I'll get extra speed with little more effort). If I do that it should carry through to all my other runs naturally.

I'm going to give myself a little bit more of an advantage in that respect by binning my shoes that force me to heel strike (i.e. those with a significantly built up heel). That way forefoot running should become a way of life more quickly than if I spent half of my time running in the orthopedic running boot that is the modern trainer! I may even try and make my standard training shoe more minimal, gradually over time. Something like the New Balance RC150 would be a good candidate as a target shoe. I can get them 'cheap as chips' as well!..

Expect to see the video analysis online soon. It will be up as soon as I figure out how to rip a DVD into an MPEG file.

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4 Comments:

July 27, 2005 10:45 PM, Mark I. said...

Sorry but I just gotta ask. What is the deal with all the shoe references? Are you trying to get a sponsor/advertising deal or something or do you just REALLY like talking about shoes?

No judgement. Just noticing. :)

 
July 27, 2005 10:51 PM, White Stag said...

A multitude of reasons...
1) I mention them to track the mileage on each pari

2) If I'm mentioning them, I may as well note down if I get on with them, to stop me buying wank pairs in the future

3) It gives me an excuse to post frequently visited links on my site, which as any decent web-rat will know is the surest way to increase one search engine rankings

4) It offers readers a resource on the shoes available to the neutral runner, and perhaps an idea if they're any good. For instance, I hate the Mizuno Wave Precision - it bites (shucks, there goes my Mizuno avertising & sponsorship)

4) I really like talking about shoes...

 
July 28, 2005 1:30 PM, Mike said...

The last person I knew with such a shoe fetish went on to form a dictatorship (surely lead a peacful, democratic Government?).

Read more

Tee hee....

 
July 28, 2005 1:37 PM, White Stag said...

LOL! All right, by popular consensus, less shoe references in the future - I'll save those for my 'shoe blog'...

I wonder if Imelda Marcos will improve my Google rankings? Hmmmm...

 

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Name:Craig Taylor
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Craig Taylor, a man, a legend, an institution... Maybe I wont go that route... Craig Taylor, a British, Berkshire born graduate, seeking to improve his running performance, without crippling himself in the process.


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