So how bad is it?

I'm partway through my first week of training. I'm trying to stick to the recommended minimum of three runs a week, and am following the 10k running plan on this website. My fiance brought to my attention the fact that my running is a bit...peculiar, by which he meant I have quite a pronounced medial heel whip. I couldn't sense this myself when running so I asked if he'd come out with me again and film what I look like when running, and he obliged. For lots of people, seeing themselves on film can be uncomfortable, but especially so when you're in the early stages of learning something new.

Watching the video of myself running was really quite shocking. The heel whip is VERY pronounced, and my legs seem to have a jelly-like quality as they thrash around beneath me. A few years ago I was given a word-a-day calendar with old English words that are no longer in use. One of those words was 'shail'. If I remember correctly it meant moving as though your bones are not sitting in their sockets correctly. I laughed at the time trying to imagine such a thing, but seeing the footage makes me suspect the original users of the word 'shale' had runners like me in mind. You can watch me run in the video below (my fiance even recorded me in slow motion, so I look extra weird).

So my initial response was, 'well, that's not normal'. Thankfully I am working my way through some corrective exercises in a book that I'll review in a future post, but I think it's pretty clear my running form needs some work!

More to think about.

Photo by Jaliya Rasaputra on Unsplash

So I finally went for a short run to try out my new shoes. Having only worn very cheap trainers before the difference in comfort was very noticeable. The new shoes were VERY comfy to run in. More importantly, no foot pain along the outer edges, so very happy so far. Yes one blistered the back of my heel a little, but every pair of new shoes I've ever worn has done the same. I expect this to stop once they've been worn a few times.

My fiance accompanied me on this run, partly for moral support and partly to observe me running. He's a far more experienced runner than I am, so I was happy to receive some critical feedback. The whole situation was a little comical. My fiance is a lot taller and fitter than I am, so imagine a graceful gazelle running circles around me as I staggered along somewhat less gracefully. He could run ahead of me, backwards, and I couldn't match his speed. Now that might sound infuriating, but as it happens it was quite useful, as he immediately shouted "your legs are flicking out to the sides behind you". I had no idea I was doing this, so there you go. When starting out running it can be helpful to take a gazelle with you. I was worried when he offered to run with me at first because I thought he'd find the pace cripplingly slow and that the whole experience might be a bit tedious for him (he's competed in triathlons and other races before), but he offered so I said why not. If you have a runner friend or colleague who offers to do the same then take them up on it. Their tips and observations may be helpful.