I did another run/walk on Saturday - three miles with two walk breaks. I recently read about a study of runners and injuries that found a group of runners with little history of injuries, and the difference was their low-impact technique.
It's good to be light on your feet, but how to do that? I've learned that keeping my core engaged and running with a sense of lift seems to reduce impact, and the walking breaks I've been taking have helped keep my fresh - it's when I get tired that I lose tone and feel more pounding.
Saturday as I was running along and hearing the sound of my own running and that of others, I had that thought that running as quietly as possible could be a good way to find efficiency and a low impact stride. At first I wasn't sure I could do it, but before long I was running along with almost no sound - and noticing more the slaps and clomps of other runners. Everyone seemed to have a unique sound.
After work today I set out for a three mile run and thought I might make it without any walk breaks. I quickly found the quiet form and focused on keeping that. My plan was to keep going unless I couldn't maintain the form. As I ran, I felt good. A couple of times I began to land a bit harder, but was able to adjust and keep going. When I started to feel the effects, it was fatigue in my quadriceps, not soreness, stiffness or pain in my ankles or knees. Running quietly helped me keep a springy feeling, without plodding or jarring. I felt better at the end of the run that I have in a long time.
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