RUNNING IN THE MILITARY
Running is a key component of physical fitness and perhaps the most important aspect of conditioning for wartime duty. (Pfc. Christopher Gaylord). So it is shocking to know that an overwhelming majority of military service men and women, as well as incoming recruits, get injured while running. It surely doesn't happen due to the lack of desire to run better, or lack of preparation, or lack of physical strength, etc. It mainly happens because: 1) most of us were never taught how to run properly; 2) those who were taught, were taught to run in an inefficient, injury-prone manner.
Running is a skill and it can be improved like any other skillful movement. Even with with all your gear on and stiff combat boots - you can learn to run easier and faster while preventing running related injuries.
Whether you need to pass the fitness test, manage a 2 mile run or rely on your running skill in combat - the Pose Method of Running will help you. It will allow you to easily run in your boots, it will enable you to run on different types of surfaces (concrete, soil, grass, sand, gravel, rocks, ice, etc). The Pose Method of Running will help you run with less effort, no injuries and increased speed.
If possible, work on your technique with a Pose Certified Instructor or attend a Pose Running Clinic. If not, then two of the best things to start with are 1) jogging and exercising barefoot as often as possible and 2) doing jump rope exercises. Various beginner level running drills from the Pose Drill Booklet should be on your training agenda as well.
Things to keep in mind when learning to run better:
- Land on the balls of your feet (do not land on your heels!).
- Land under your General Center of Mass, not ahead of yourself.
- Keep your Head, Shoulders, Hips, and Balls of the Feet aligned while keeping the knees slightly bent at all times.
- Keep a cadence of 180 spm or higher to use muscle elasticity.
- Keep your strides short and compact.
