Posture problems

[Jomarie1979]

Today I completed WK7R2. Although I found the run hard I didn't feel any twinges during. A couple of hours later I felt pain in coccyx area which made it hard to walk. Now tonight my neck has a similar pain. I'm sure this is because I run with my head mostly down. I find it hard to look ahead. 1. I don't want to give anyone eye contact (silly I know) and 2. I feel as slow as a snail when I look straight ahead and I'm hardly moving. Any tips to help with my posture would be much appreciated 😊

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

You have answered your own question. Head should always be up when running. Look through people, if you have to.

Keep shoulders back, arms bent 90 degrees at elbows, hands relaxed never clenched.

Runners need good core strength and many of us have had to do extra work on that, especially as we run longer and further.

Smile when you run.

[Jomarie1979 Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thank you. I will be very mindful of this on my Run tomorrow. Going to take time to break this habit but I certainly don't want to end up on the IC with only 2 weeks until graduation 😊

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to Jomarie1979]

I was thinking about you while out on my run and Oldfloss has said most of the things I was going to say. I have noticed your love of running coming from your posts and I am sure it has boosted your self confidence by now. You should be greeting everybody you pass with a cheery smile and a "Hello" If they they think you are a demented loon then you can have a laugh about it and smile even more. You may just make someone's day. You should be proud of what you have achieved.

The other thing is, head up improves breathing.

Keep running, keep smiling.

[Jomarie1979 Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

This made me smile. Will go out tomorrow full of the self confidence I deserve and my head held high 😊

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

And what's wrong with slow as a snail??? I was the Original Grey Snail.... snail's pace works... slow and steady!!

So.. you know what is happening.. the runs are longer and with your head down, trying to disappear into yourself.. of course you re aching

You are a runner... relax your shoulders, shake out your hands, look at least 10 paces ahead,try to land lightly and gently and.... put a huge smile on your face and run

You are doing this and the graduation badge is being polished as we speak...the folk who may make eye contact with you...are looking at you with admiration and awe...so

"Self-confidence is the best outfit...rock it, and own it "

[Jomarie1979 Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Thank you Oldfloss! Very wise words and definitely motivation for my run tomorrow. Need to break this habit pronto!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Jomarie1979]

You do... be proud of yourself....we runners, we can be so self effacing too at times.. My husband is always asking me, "when are you going to admit you are a.. real...runner and can run.."?

Good luck on your run tomorrow... head up and smile

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

PS

Not a Grey snail now though... I am a Yellow Stripey one

[Tp36 Graduate]

I am a very slow runner who has just completed W9, until W8 I always ran with my head down as I found I could conquer the distance if I didn't see it. Then W9 I ran with my head held up and boy did it make a difference, I felt I had opened up, breathed more easily and my posture straightened.

[Jomarie1979 Graduate in reply to Tp36]

Definitely going to do my best to break the habit 😊

[misswobble Graduate]

On a recent race I had to make an effort to keep upright as I had such a cough. You crane your neck ever so slightly too, as Laura used to tell us, as if trying to peer over a hedge

Slumping when tired happens so you have to haul yourself upright or you can get indigestion.

When you trail run it's a bit different is you gave to keep checking where to put your feet

Run proud! 🙂

[Jomarie1979 Graduate in reply to misswobble]

It's a hard habit to break but I am determined to do so. Really don't want an injury to affect my progress 😊 I WILL run proud, thank you!