POSE METHOD of RUNNING - review, part 1

I realize I have a lot of blog readers interested in running. That's great because I am too. And just incase you have noticed there's a lack of a specific theme to this blog, my attention is to give my readers info and news in as many areas of fitness and health as possible.

Here's part 1 of my review and recap of the POSE METHOD of RUNNING, a book on running technique by Dr. Nicholas Romanov.

The book starts by distinguishing itself from all other books about running by assuming that “very few people know how to run” and that “running is a skill sport (running techniques needs to be learned and taught in order to run effectively and injury free) but is often treated like a training sport (how much and how often to run). Parallels to other sports such as tennis are made (you don't play tennis matches if you can't hit the ball over the net) and the abundance of professional guidance on running technique. I think that's a very true fact worth thinking of. Most people never reflect on how they run – they just do it, with variable results and success.

The founder of the Pose Method of Running, Dr. Nicholas Romanov, grew up in Russia and started his career as a teacher and track & field coach at a University in Moscow in the late seventies. The Introduction part of his book tells how he was frustrated over the lack of a method to teach running techniques and how studying ballerinas and martial arts made him understand the importance of certain poses and its effect on performance. Dr. Romanov then immigrated to USA and has then worked with elite athletes and Olympians from Great Britain and USA.
So, the Pose Method of Running is by no means a newly developed method, it has over 25 years of fieldwork to back it up. But after all, I would like to say it is relatively new to the amateur running society and just like you are doing right now, the general public is learning more and more about different running methods and techniques.

If you want to be healthy – run
If you want to be handsome – run
If you want to be smart – run
Ancient Greek aphorism

Chapter 2 of the book talks a little about Dr. Romanov's philosophy of running and also how the ancient Greeks supposedly practiced and painted arts displaying “perfect” running technique (of course they did, tell me something the ancient Greeks didn't do...). Also, different views and critiques against the effectiveness of an optimal running techniques are answered.

“It's never to late to learn”
Early in the book (Chapter 3) the experienced runner is warned that switching running technique and style will most likely take time (and a good chunk of frustration) in the beginning. Personally, I can vouch for that as well.

To motivate a change in running style, and perhaps give an eye-opening experience, the reader is asked to observe other runners and reflect over how the best runners look, behave and run. The message is clear; learn from the best.

The Pose Method itself is and how to avoid injuries is described in Chapter 5. A few interesting points on the role, effect the evolution of the modern running shoe has had on runners and injuries (see previous post DOES RUNNING SHOES CAUSE MORE BAD THAN GOOD)
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“Whenever the body is functioning properly with all systems operating in the correct alignment and in unison, there should be no injuries. However, when something in that movement is incorrect the body breaks out of the framework of it normal operation and something “breaks”. I like this sentence since it applies very well with injuries due to compensation and misalignments in strength training too (see previous post FUNCTIONAL TEST).

Chapter 6 gives examples of how Tiger Woods, in the beginning of his then already successful career, took a great risk and changed his swing pattern to function more effectively in the long run, and came back an even better golfer (but a worse husband?). It also attempts to motivate and make the reader aware of psychological restrictions that might limit performance the freedom to overcome your own set limits.
The ever so desired “lightness of running” and how to let your feet strike the ground and the concepts of the Pose Method of Running is then discussed. The reader is informed that a total intellectual understanding of the method is needed and to give the method a chance you have to buy the concept – especially if you're going to teach it to others.
The book also draws comparisons between Haile Gebreselassie and Michael Johnson of how they both land on the ball of the foot with light, short strides.



Now, in Chapter 11, the Pose Method itself is explained. “It all comes down to mastering the pose and to constantly repeat it in cycles, over and over again”. The book gets in to the details and biomechanics of the pose, how the alignment of head, shoulder, hip and goot should look, where the center of gravity should be and how you should feel as a runner – centered, balanced, relaxed without wasting energy.

More from POSE METHOD of RUNNING will follow (+Intermittent Fasting, the latest fitness news and strength and weight training advice!)

/Henrik