Torso Power

Been awhile since I have posted and it seems that I only post about running. I think it’s because I have been doing it the longest but I certainly will tie it into Crossfit later in the post.

Like I have said many times before, I am not a natural runner and never really expect to get very good at it but damn it, I like it! Really what is there to like but compared to a lot of things it is easier on the body (that’s my new CrossFit sarcasm). Many people talk about running as high impact which it is but there are so many things that are tougher. Like Crossfit (this is a good thing). What it really means is running is becoming more normal to me. It’s not creating the pain and discomfort it did when I started last July. Yep, I can officially say running is getting less hard on my body. What does this mean; I can really start to enjoy it.

Tonight was a great night to run. So much energy out on the Bayfront Trail. I could be exaggerating but I believe there was a good 80-100 runners of all levels (beginners to elite). It must be the warm weather bug and we are getting awfully close to the Around The Bay Race in March. Which I am excited about too.

I am ready to set a race goal thus my post and I want to talk about another moment during exercise when all those things you read and practise come together (yes this is a re-occurring theme from my very first post). Yes another eureka moment. It is so great when you can connect the dots. I do not want my learning curve to ever end. Please don't end! Although I am sure I will find something else to entertain myself.

So anyway what was that moment tonight? Great question! It was about all those articles you read about form and your arm motion. You know, the ones that say keep good form and only use your arms gently to conserve energy and by doing this your hips/legs will begin to do the work for you. Well until tonight this never really made sense.

Tonight I ran a tempo run(short warm up and short cool down) which is something I am not good at but I did find a pretty good pace tonight, and for some reason with about 1500m to go I started to think about my arms. I gently started to use my torso more and corkscrew (very slightly) my upper body and viola my hips opened up.

This was an amazing feeling. For the first time ever I felt like I had the power to maintain a higher pace and it felt easier than it ever did and oddly the effort was minimal. Yes this is one of those Zen moments runners talk of or at least it was for me.

In one easy sentence I would like to say how this was possible, and rather than that, I will use one word. CrossFit. End of sentence. CrossFit.

Tonight I did not run really fast but I felt a new power and sense of control over my body. I was stronger, faster, and more flexible.

Tomorrow I will post about my new workout schedule and my goals for The Around The Bay 5k. For now, I am a loaded corkscrew and I had no idea I had such spring in my step LOL (oh man)!

What are your short term goals?