The returning runner…

Act 59 – Rollin’, rollin’, rollin on the river… (Creedance Clearwater Revival)

I’ve talked about running uphill and how that got me started being able to run again (18 years ago at the age of 48). And, I’ve talked about being able to start opening it up on the downhills and having fun with that. But, I haven’t talked about running on the flats. That’s because I haven’t been able to do it – at least not in workouts. In races, well, I get in race mode and get up on the forefoot and manage to push through. But, not in workouts. When working out on a trail, my workouts consist of pushing the uphills and gliding on the downhills and not knowing what to do in-between. My flat stretches have been just a jogging interlude between the other parts. My legs flinch on the flats – a paranoia borne out of 30 years of trauma and some habit perhaps. I’m over-cautious on the flats. I hyper-focus on foot placement. How will I come down that won’t hurt? Sometimes I try to change that. I try to use my diaphragm muscles to allow my hips to pivot more. I try to stretch the hammies out and roll off the heel of my feet. But, whatever I do, it’s forced and not relaxed.

This past Friday, I had gone out of my way to pick a nearly flat trail - the path along the Steamboat irrigation ditch. I was pushing it. And, using my old trick of trying to really open up the hammies and roll off the heels. Somehow, something changed. I was able to stop thinking about foot placement on landing. I simply thought “forward” and then “forward faster” and that’s what I did. I slipped into a rolling rhythm. My arms, abs, legs everything just working as one relaxed unit. In my mind’s eye I could see myself moving as I had seen champion marathon runners move. I pushed the whole 9 miles and remained in this magical rolling machine that I haven’t had for 46 years or so. I’ve managed to get in the rolling groove a couple of times since too (although I was sore after my glorious 9-mile rush) so it’s not a fluke – I can do it again. How did I do it? My thoughts:

·       Pilates to both stretch and strengthen.

·       Perhaps crossing some sort of conditioning threshold??? I don’t really know…

I think that this is a breakthrough. I think I’m going to start racing quite a bit faster ;O)…Fingers crossed…

Photo: Beau rollin’ on the river!