Running Tips, Lesson 4: Rolling Your Feet.

Rolling can be one of the hardest things to do. Especially when you are tired. But it's also really important. But before I explain that, let me make sure that I mention the other lessons, 1, 2, and 3.

Okay, first off, one of he biggest complaints people have is that running hurts their knees, or that it's too much impact. I maintain that they are doing it wrong, just like I used to. If you have hear a flap-flap-flap sound when you're running, you're not rolling. You're "flapping" (my word). Rolling is very similar to walking, you land on your heals and roll forward on your feet. The cool thing is that you run nearly silent. All you can hear is the sound of your breathing, not your shoes pounding the pavement.

This is one of the things that I still find challenging. I have to make a conscience effort to roll until my body remembers how to run. It helps to run with someone that knows to look out for this. The lady that I run with gives me small reminders like "you're flapping" or "remember to breath". Small things, but as you get tired or anxious you can forget them.

This is important that it is established early. If you are "pounding the pavement" then you're sure to injure yourself a lot more, and if you are into running at that point, it'll piss you off to no end. And running badly isn't smart if you want to keep your knees for later. I think that this and breathing properly at the two big things in running, and once you figure out those two things, everything else falls into place.

Next lesson: Psychology of running -> lie.

Listening to: Underworld - River of Bass