How changing my arm swing helped my calves....

           I always knew that form was important. It only makes 120% sense that form can make or break a run, can cause injuries or help prevent them. A few days back I had to actually stop running because my calves were so painful I was afraid I'd have an injury if I did not stop, so I shamefully walked twice during what should have been an easy 5 miles. I came back home and on one of my running podcasts that I listen to every morning, The Natural Running Network, I heard the show titled, "If It Ain't Broke' and Richard Diaz, the host of the podcast, mentioned something about arm swing. I thought I was doing an effective arm swing this whole time. I have read CHI running and from that was aware that arms are to be at your sides, etc...But what I was doing wrong was that my shoulders were going back and forth more than my arm. I mindfully paid attention to my arms the whole run and surprisingly had no calf pain. I think in some ways they are related. The fact that my arms were not pumping sideways at the elbows made me less able to navigate easily thorough space, making my legs do more work. Once I added the correct form for my arm swing, my legs did not have to struggle so much, and therefore I felt fine the entire 4 miles. 

Just finished the Cherry Blossom 10 miler!

                   The day could not have been more beautiful. It was a bit on the cool side in the morning, but manageable. The medal is absolutely gorgeous!! My daughter wore it all through lunch. The fact that I am running is having quite an impact on her. She now asks to run with me and while we're driving around in the car she notices every runner and yells out, 'there is a runner mom.'  Interestingly, I notice every runner on the street too. After reading the book Chi Running I watch every running to gauge their form. 

                   I was very impressed with how well this race was run.....the wait line for the check bags was half a minute! the free water bottles, Gatorade, muffins and bananas were great at the end. The reviews I had read about it had mentioned something about it being ultra crowded, it was, but not more than any other races I've run. The spectators and the volunteers were funny and very peppy, made me think I should sign up to volunteer for the Marine Corps Marathon, since I missed the deadline to run in it. I also thought of maybe taking at a crack at being one of those photographers.