As athletes we spend a lot of our spare time figuring out what we should be eating / drinking ...what is right to eat / drink, what to eat / drink to be optimal runners, how much and when should we eat / drink??? All great questions and all important for creating an inward Balance.....
But how much time do we spend on actually finding out if our skeleton, the thing that holds up our body, that allows us to move in many directions is "IN BALANCE"...
From the runners I have run with and actually trained the answer to a man is very little.
Why is that?
Its not that simple of an answer. I believe reason No 1 is that most believe running is a natural thing and we all should be able to do it without any thought process attached. Again in theory "TRUE" however the "It should come natural", principle no longer applies. We no longer live, play, grow the way our ancestors did? From a vey young age we stop being active, we stop playing, we put undue stress on our bodies and we become misaligned through sitting, driving and other activities.
Then we start running and we add distance, if we are 1cm out of balance due to limited flexability - tight muscle groups, or even low back issues this manifests itself in over use / corrective activities on one side that comes out as runners knee or other ailments.
What is the solution?
Get "In Balance". Go see a Physiotherapist or Chiropractor and even a Massage Therapist to take a look at you especially if you are experiencing pain or any discomfort... Dont do what most do and run through the pain...get it looked at right away by a professional and do not listen to the locker room doctors.. :)
If you can get the body aligned and in balance so that every foot strike is even then you will be amazed as was I as to how much your form and body movement improves...Making you an effecient runner.
CHI-rs
JR
"CrossFit Endurance Cert" 2011
