Transcendent Running: Doing What You Love And Staying Active: Two elements

I was out with my dog yesterday walking and running along the Platte River trail and off leash dog park areas and I had a chance to observe a couple of different people running. The first one was an older runner probably in his fifties or sixties. The two pictures below contain parts of what I observed in his running form though the pictures here exaggerate what I saw a bit. Notice the forward head in the picture at the left below and notice the misalignment of the foot, knee and hip in the photo below on the right. I thought to myself that this man was doing what he loved. I gave him a great deal of credit for that. That is what it is all about. Do what you love and what makes you feel alive. One of the most powerful things in life is deciding to do something and then doing it consistently.

But then I saw a second runner. Yes she was younger, but the way she moved looked so much more comfortable, and sustainable, not only over the course of her run on that day but over a lifetime. Notice the forward head again of the man in the first photo. This man looks very active. Yet it is possible that he could improve what he is doing. What do I mean by improve? I am not promoting the “perfect”. I know that many people have had injuries and that everyone is doing the best they can today. But please look at the example picture that I have given of the second runner.

I was so taken by the difference, the good skeletal support, the ease, the pleasure that I had to write this post. Look at the level hips, the lack of over striding, the level of comfort. The foundation for being able to do what we want is learning. Learning is a process. I encourage you to make way for the process of improvement as well as the goals you have in movement. Improvement is seeking more comfort, more pleasure, less injury, stronger alignment.

Can anyone improve, or do only younger runners run well with skill? Look at the pictures of Ed Whitlock below. He is in his eighties. He does what he does partly because he does it well. Seek improvement, devote time to the process, seek answers, they are out there.