Fixing my form

I made a somewhat dubious decision to completely revamp my running form during my full marathon training cycle.  I'm pretty sure that this should qualify me as 85% out of my mind right now.  It's scary enough for me to think about getting from the start to the finish of a marathon using only my own power, but to throw in running form training too???  I am clearly out of my ever loving mind.

Yesterday was day one of training, and it was also day one of being mindful of my form.  I figured out a while ago that I tend to prefer a shuffle over actual running, because I could do it without tiring quickly.  That shuffle got me through my last half marathon quite nicely, but really, I feel lucky I didn't injure myself.  The way I currently run means that my feet hit the ground super heavy.  I go through shoes quickly, and my bones take quite a beating.  It is definitely time to make a change, one that also has the big potential to make me even faster as I transition into more classically correct running form.

But dude.  It is really, really, really hard to run with good form.  I feel like I weight 450 pounds when I try to run correctly.  There were times when I could hardly run for a minute without having to take a break.  It is HARD WORK to run properly.  And oh man, do my legs hurt right now.  Wowie-zowie.

I know this is just going to take time, and be something that I always am working towards achieving.  Nobody runs "perfectly", and nor should they, because everyone's body has its own special {snowflake} quirks.  But I am trying, and I don't plan on letting my own temporary pain get in the way of long term gains.  So for the next few weeks, you'll probably get to hear about how I'm hobbling along, working towards getting my shins up on my kick, "pawing" the ground, and engaging my glutes on toe off.  You are all such lucky people.

And in case any of you are interested, so far I am finding this article helpful.  Also, the videos below.  Do any of you work on running form?  Advice on strategies for how to transition from deplorable form to something much more workable?  Please share!

 

 

And with all of that, I'm doing yoga today and taking a walk if I decide that I'm feeling feisty.  What are you doing to move your body today?