Hey ladieeeeeessssssss!!!!

Anyway pretty awesome how the overlapping race seasons are coming in - marathons overlapping with triathlons and duathlons, whew.

I am around 14ish miles on the weekends, just gradually increasing. During the week, intervals to the max (yesterday, half mile repeats, tomorrow, HARD hill repeats).

Last weekend I went to a running clinic hosted by a local PT's office (a friend had shoulder surgery - labrum and spurs - and is seeing them). They seemed to be a pretty decent PT. You went through 3 main stations:

1. Flexibility and general movement. A PT looks you over to see if you can touch the floor with your hands, how your hips rotate, how symmetrical things are. We were splitting hairs here to find any changes, but my left was a little stiff (due for a chiro visit, neglected some stretching) so we talked about some symmetry stuff - mostly glutes, adductors, core, the usual. As I was finishing, I watched them do the running analysis, and the guy asked if I was ready for the next guy, setting me up for some critique...

2. Video analysis. You warm up on the treadmill for a few minutes, then they speed it up - still a jogging pace, not all out - and record you. They play it back and discuss your running form. He was basically speechless. "Well, let me tell you, I.... uh.... well.... I wouldn't change a thing." Midfoot strike, good stride, not over rotating, core engaged, symmetrical, good cadence. We talked about what other people do wrong and discussed strength training to stay strong.

3. Soft tissue. They ask about your history, look over what's been done so far, and give you advice for exercises, stretches, etc. She asked if I ever got massage (yes, once a month), what kind of massage, what kind of stretching/flexibility/strength, etc. "Well, not much I can do for you, but I appreciate you coming!"

They had an optional nutrition station ("everything is pretty individual, sounds like you already know what to do and how to figure it out") and a footwear station ("well, you already have shoes you like, and I don't have much to offer in the minimal department").

They ask why you're there, and I said, I really feel like everyone can always learn something, you can always improve. My goals are just to get faster, for it to be more natural, to make adjustments if needed. Apparently I don't need to make any adjustments. Hooray? I guess knowing is better than not! Unfortunately I am running out of excuses for being slow.