6:00 am: Boot camp workout for 80 minutes. Arms are tender! Most of this is an entry for me to remember about my running appointment, so it may bore you with the results. IF you want to shortened version, it is this...I am messed up. 9:30 am- Today I had my running appointment. I've been looking forward to this appointment all month. Since I was referred by my Sports Doctor, my insurance covered most of the cost aside from my copay. It appears to be a small world. I met with two trainers who worked with me the entire time. I connected with them right away. One of the trainers did his studies at ISU where I did my undergrad work. The other trainer did her doctorate at University of Wisconsin, where I also did my graduate work. We hit it off right away! I started with some strength and flexibility tests on my legs. It appears I have made a lot of improvements over the past 2 months of physical therapy in this area, so that was really good to hear my hard work and annoying PT exercises have paid off! My right leg is about even streghth wise as my left now: They had me get on a treadmill and taped me running from all angles with a white band around my waste. They looked at everything from my hips down to my toes very througly then went over the tape in slow motion with me, The results were: 1. My knees cave in with each step, especailly my right. This causes lack of efficiency and increased injury to knees. 2. Apparently my legs cross like sizzors. Runners are suppose to keep a center line, I cross over with my legs. Again, the same issues here with injury and efficiency. 3. I pronate normally. This was the best find. I have been running in stability shoes with custom orthotics. I was told I could wean out of these puppies into neutral conditioning shoes. Best advice of the day! 4. I run like a duck. My tail is out, my lower back is caved in and my belly is out. Arms are all over the place.So, butt in, abs tight, hips lifted and arms back at 90 angle with a slight upper lean. Lots of movement in the legs and arms, little to no movement in the core and center- That is the goal. I did this at 8:30 pace on the treadmill and about died. I don't think I know how to run anymore. This is my assignement for the next 2 weeks of running. She said there is a lot more work to do on the lower part, but will add that in gradually. 5. My foot strike is funny. Although I pronate normally, my stabilization on my leg is weird. I'm not sure what she called it, I can only remember the image of watching it zoomed in and in slow motion. It almost appeared that I jarred my foot each time I struck the ground. Huh. Not sure what this is about but she has a plan to fix too....later. 6. Hips look good for the most part, a little dipping on my right I guess. She gave me several exercises to help with this. The good news is that I have the capacity and muscles to fix each of these items, it will just take some practice and cognition to correct. Hopefully this leads to more injury free seasons. I think the going home message is that if it's not broken, then don't fix! Since I am and have been broken, it's time to fix! I pretty much plan on being like Kassi Harmon and all the other great runners by the end of all of this. 7:00 pm : 1.5 hours of tennis with the family. I appears I have a lot of work ahead before my first game next Thursday. I tried on a tennis skirt at Lululemon and have not stopped thinking about it. I can't get myself to pay $60.00, so I will have to wait till the DI gets one in my size and color preference. Anything but vomit color will do, but that seems to be the only choices lately..that or white with an interesting stain in a peculiar spot. I will wait or go without if those are my choices:)
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