lateral movement

KathleenKP

I was running on the treadmill today and experimenting with changing my form a bit. Sometimes when I run I *SHAKE* the treadmill. I'm not big enough anymore that I should be shaking it like that based on my weight. And I'm definitely not always going so fast that this should be happening. It does tend to happen more when I'm running faster than 7.5 mph, though. I found if I focus on getting my legs to go forward and back, there is considerably less shaking. I think I hit midfoot more as well. I think when I'm doing the lateral movement (and shaking the treadmill), it's a result of my tight IT bands (and relatively weaker hip muscles). I've been working on my IT bands and glute muscle strength separate from running.

So a couple things that I realized today:

1. The treadmill is good for feedback on form for this, so I will continue to focus on it.

2. If I'm starting to experiment with my form, I'm a runner now (this may not be for everyone, but I think it is true for me). Before, I was a swimmer trying to run. And it was all I could do to think about keeping the running going. My mind couldn't handle more yet.

likitisplit

That's awesome learning, Kathleen! I'm beginning to see the treadmill as a valuable tool as well. It really lets you concentrate on detail in a way the the vagaries of a road or trail do not.

KathleenKP

Out on the road today, I tried to remember what I was doing on the treadmill. It's hard for me to stay focused that long. (You should see me in the pool. I often lose count after "two".) I feel faster when I work at focusing on the forward movement instead of just letting my legs swing naturally.

likitisplit

How are you in your hips? That's my weak area and I felt exactly the same way when I was running last night. Pushing forward helped me keep my butt engaged and stabilized everything from my abs to my feet.

Sports math is a pain. I can sometimes make it up to three, but I can't do any addition.

KathleenKP

I am relatively week in my hips - relative to other muscles. That's one of the marks of IT band issues, and why the "clamshells" is one of the standard PT exercises. I've been asking my trainer to make sure I get hip workouts each time, and they have been getting stronger. But the treadmill made me notice that I still have a ways to go in "dat-to-day" movement correction.

Anyway, that's why I had asked in another post if you had IT band issues. If you stand flamingo style on one leg and your IT bands are tight, you "sit" into the side - into the IT band - instead of your glute muscles holding you there. (So the hip of the side you are standing on moves outward.) You had mentioned that you sat into your hips.

I'm going running with a friend tomorrow - a first for me in my running journey - and I'll work on thinking about the forward movement. I think we are only going to run about 3 miles.