I’m no Baryshnikov, but

About ten years ago I drastically changed my swimming stroke.  My old stroke relied on creating propulsive force based on muscle strength, which used a lot of energy.  Picture an AMC Gremlin – the two-door subcompact with a 4 liter V-6 engine that had the aerodynamics of a brick.  That was how I used to swim, plowing through the water.  I came to the realization that I needed to change my stroke when I noticed I was squatting weights I used to bench press.  I could no longer rely on my strength to help me swim fast. 

I got a book and video tapes called Total Immersion by Terry Laughlin.  It took the better part of a year of drills and mindful practice, like Tai Chi, but I converted.  Total Immersion focuses on the use of gravity for weight shifts, using buoyancy and gravity to generate propulsion.  The method emphasizes full body integration, greater efficiency and lowering resistance.  Now I take fewer strokes per lap and can hold about the same intervals.  As a result I burn fewer calories during a workout.  What’s the point in that?

In 2009 my father sent me a copy of Christopher McDougall’s Born to Run.  I had recurring leg and foot injuries that kept me from achieving my running goals.  I changed my form from long, heal-striking strides to a shorter, quicker shuffle.  This reduced the landing shock and was a more efficient use of my energy.  My stride rate increased to allow me to keep the same pace.  I ran with a more erect back, practiced landing mid-foot and touching my feet down directly under my body. 

I’d learned to “truck” in the 70s; weight way back behind my heals, feet landing well in front of my body.  With my shoulder length blond hair flapping in the breeze, I thought I looked real good.  Now the only time I let my feet land in front of my body is when I want to check to make sure my laces are still tied.  If I tilt my head down to look, I take a tumble. 

Before I adopted the minimalist running form, I had problems: obsessive / compulsive behavior, forgetfulness and a general bad attitude to name a few.  Minimalist running did nothing to resolve those issues, but it did allow me to run injury free for three years and helped me run a marathon PR.  If you haven’t yet, give it a try.

Scott Jurik, in his book Eat & Run, mentions breathing through your nose while running as a means to promote abdominal breathing.  Nasal breathing, he says, lowers the heart rate and helps brain activity.  Below is a photo of me taken at the half way point of the 2011 American Discovery Trail Marathon.  Note that I am breathing through my nose.  I am running at about a ~6:40 / mile pace and have just passed the guy in red.  He could have gotten some butter and jelly at that point because he was toast.

I will spend the rest of my life trying to regain that pinnacle of performance.