Running Man instalment three

You might think that running isn’t an activity that needs a specialist school. Surely it’s like walking, only faster? You’d be wrong.

After a niggling right knee threatened to quash my marathon dreams only a few weeks into training, I decided to seek expert help. And when it comes to experts in running, The Running School seemed like a good bet.

The Running School is a national organisation with two locations Bristol: one in Redland and another inside BW Cycling beside Cumberland Basin.  The school is basically an affiliation of physiotherapists and sports rehabilitation experts who share their knowledge to help people move more efficiently, reducing injury risk and improving performance. Even for flailing lollopers like me.

My first meeting is with head coach Chris Kay, who radiates enthusiasm for the challenge ahead. After a background chat, it’s time for a session of bio-mechanical analysis, which involves running on a treadmill while Chris records my efforts with a tiny camcorder. He films front, side and back, then loads the footage onto his laptop so we can witness in slo-mo the full majesty of my marathon gait.

The analysis reveals lots of things I never knew I was doing: drawing little figures-of-eight with my shoulders, turning my right foot inwards, punching at my chest with my left arm and kicking up one heel higher than the other.

Chris is beaming. Sharing this rush of self-discovery is clearly a satisfying moment. We discuss the film footage in detail, Chris drawing lines onto the screen to show what’s working and what needs improvement. “Running is more like cycling than walking,” he says. “We’re looking for a circular motion in the feet. But it’s about much more than how you hit the ground. Running all is about ensuring your whole body is moving in the right way.”

He tells me I’m training too hard and that following a one-size-fits-all training programme downloaded off the internet is not always a good idea. “Everyone’s different,” he says, “but those downloads are a generic best-guess aimed at thousands of people.” Time to tear up the training programme and have a major re-think. And a bit of a rest. 

There are no quick fixes and no ready-made templates when it comes to running technique, Chris tells me. So we’re going to meet regularly and establish what works for me and my crunchy knee.

Then it’ll be about practising and reinforcing those good habits until they become instinctive.

I leave feeling more optimistic about my running than I have done in a long time. Having spent months pretending to ignore my knee’s gentle stabbing complaints, it feels like I’m finally taking control. Going back to the drawing board after 20 years of running a certain way is a little daunting, but the prospect of pleasurable, pain-free running glows in my mind.

I was a pretty reluctant student in my youth, but now I can’t wait to get back to school.

The Running School Bristol offer a range of courses for everyone from recreational runners to elite triathletes. They also offer a specialist Marathon School course. 

www.runningschool.co.uk

Read more:
Running man – part 1
Running man – part 2