Barefoot running in the park.

It could be the title of a novel. However the truth is that yes I was barefoot running in the park but it was Saturday on an Autumnal, cold and wet day.  During the week I had been told by Gary (fitness consultant extraordinaire) to bring my trainers, but I wouldn't be needing them, I felt nervous but had full faith in what Gary was going to be teaching me, the idea of meeting Gary was to try and work on my technique. We met in the car park at Roundhay Park, Gary had just finished the Harewood 10km so for him to give up his time for me was something I really appreciated. We head towards a small grassed area where Gary explains what we will be doing today, to begin with I run at my normal stance and pace around a small area. When asked to describe my running stance and range I just shrugged my shoulders and said "plodding". After I had done my little circuit we chatted about what he wanted me to do next, Step number 1....take off your trainers. Gary instructs me to do the circuit again, I cant believe what happens, as I finish the circuit we discuss what happened. Now you may be wondering what miracle befell me on the wet grass, well plain and simple it was front foot running. I know I know "whats so special about that ?" well for me that has never been able to front foot run it was unbelievable. Gary shows me on my trainers why it has been so difficult for me to run on my front part of my foot. It is down to the heel of my trainer, its too thick, the cushion that we require to keep our feet from impacting on the surface is the very thing that is potentially causing the injuries I run with to be aggravated. Gary shows me how the balance of my body whilst running could be contorting my whole body even to the point of causing a problem with my shoulder. So the conclusion to this is new training shoes, now anyone that knows me will tell you that buying things for myself comes quite low down the list, there is always someone or something that needs it more than me. But this time even I have to admit that maybe it is time to get what I need. Gary then shows me a yoga based exercise for balance, standing on tip toes, lift the knee up and hold for 2seconds, step forward still on tip toes, raise your trailing leg to bring your knee up, hold for 2seconds and step forward. This is repeated over a distance of about 12 feet, now until you give it a go you have no idea how difficult this is, my arms were really aching when I finished the first rep. I rest for a couple of minutes we discuss how this exercise will benefit me in the future, due to the extending of my calves at such a stretch it will mean that when I do run on my front foot I wont be extending that far therefore meaning that I should avoid injury and pain.
We do some strengthening exercises which really test my muscles in my thighs, I can feel the burn in my thighs they feel heavy and jelly like, but Gary won't let me relax just yet. I am working muscles that I would normally use when running but boy oh boy are they hurting now. Then as we get into a press up position Gary asks me to move my left foot next to my left hand....er Gary I don't do flexible....I get it as near as I can, then begin to rotate my hips.....I hope you can get the mental picture of this, because trust me the physical part of doing it was forefront in my mind. Then I need to take my left elbow and run in down the inside of my left leg to try and put my left elbow on the floor, yes you read that right, the floor, so by this time my body is screaming pain, and Gary brings out this gem " my running club guys hate it when I turn up, because I make them do this and they hate it" No you don't say Gary !!!!. So we drop the back leg and relax for a split second then continue with the right leg. By now I can no longer tell my right from my left, my mind is trying to decide whether I should scream in agony or just collapse. We continue with some more stretches this time on the park bench, squats used to fill me with dread as my thighs would just turn to lead. But sitting up and down from a bench was good news for my thighs, " take a step forward and go as low as you can, what I would like to see is your hips below your knees". I don't know if I mentioned this Gary but I am not that flexible !! But it felt good and quite comfortable. You will have noticed that at no point have I mentioned putting my trainers back on, that is simply because working in bare feet is the lightest way to feel what is going on under your feet. It felt good to be in bare feet and working with front foot running, I am really excited about giving it a go in the morning.
Yeah well my intention was to go out, but I hit a major problem, I thought I ached after the GNR boy oh boy it had nothing on this pain. But at least my normal injuries were not hurting I just had a few new ones. I didn't expect this level of pain, but as Gary said I worked muscles pretty hard and it was going to be uncomfortable. Okay so instead of heading out for a run I had a quiet day searching the internet for new training shoes, I spent a mental fortune.
Today was run day, I set off out with my focus on front foot, no headphones, no music just me listening to my feet striking the floor, this was an usual thing for me as I have always run to music, but I have to admit I soon got into stride. It didn't take me long to remember to stay on my front foot, it felt lighter and less effort. I could tell instantly that my not banging my heels into the ground was less painful on just about everything especially my heels,shins, knees and hips. I felt completely at ease and even on the slight uphills I didn't feel out of pace or stride. I was really happy that although it was a short run it was a success and what I set out to achieve had been done. Huge thank you to Gary Butterfield G-Rex fitness you never know Gary the next time you see me I may be able to do the dreaded exercise.....I did only say maybe !.

This weekend marked a year since Anne left. It was a difficult day for many of us. Happy memories of childhood, masked with unbelievable sadness.
I thought about one particular day when I sat in the conservatory shortly before she went back into Wheatfields, she sat and watched her Partner and Mum hanging washing out on the line. I asked her " tell me what you are thinking about ?" Anne replied with a shaky voice " why does it take something like this to make things right ? " I didn't really know how to answer this because I knew what she meant. Why do we wait until it's too late to make amends ? If we know that a situation needs someone to make the first move, then why leave it to the other one. One day you may not have this option and it is too late to make the first move.