I've lost my running mojo.
Contributed by Ann Jurczyk
Maybe that's an overstatement. Perhaps I never had running mojo. I've never been fast, but I have powered up and over hills. I've swung my arms and breathed deeply and felt like quicksilver. Fluid motion. Strength and grace. (An outside observer might not think I looked graceful, but I FELT graceful, and that's what counts).
And now? I feel tight and achy, like the tin man before Dorothy and Toto came along. The arms, legs and breathing are out of synch, and when did I wake up this planet with a gravitational force 10x's that of earth?
I could think of 3 things that might help and all are available in Williamsburg. The first was a gait analysis, the second was yoga to help healing and flexibility, and the third was strengthening my core. Taken together, perhaps I could get back the love I'd had for running.
What should Ann do to reclaim her running mojo???? Email your suggestions to
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 Part 1: Gaining Insight from a Gait Analysis
Warning to readers: Gross generalization ahead.
Runners are an obsessed lot. The same compulsion that drives us to log the miles despite the weather also drives us to track our splits during pace runs, monitor our heart rates and compare our training tactics with other runners. Heck, even the recreational runner who takes in an occasional 5K wants to know his 1 mile splits during the race. Given our obsession with performance, it's no wonder that gait analysis is a growing phenomenon.
"Gait" refers to how our bodies move from one point to another. A gait analysis might be as simple as having a knowledgeable shoe salesperson watch you run across the store floor. Jim Elder at Colonial Sports fit me in a pair of Asics several years ago after I complained of knee pain. He saw that I over-pronated and needed a shoe with some additional arch support. Despite upping my mileage considerably since that first fitting, the knee pain hasn't returned.
Dr. Daniel Shaye of Performance Chiropractic in Williamsburg recently conducted a gait analysis clinic at the JCC recreation center. Dr. Shaye and his assistant videotaped runners and walkers on the treadmill, then reviewed the video frame by frame to identify potential trouble spots.
"A video gait analysis can uncover bad form before you're in my office complaining of knee, hip, back or ankle pain," said Dr. Shaye. "A comprehensive gait analysis assesses whether your body mechanics are solid enough to support an aggressive training schedule or if you're setting yourself up for injury."
So what did this video gait analysis uncover?
First frame in. Whoa! I look as friendly as a pit bull. Not to self: smile next time you're being videotaped on a treadmill. Now on to the mechanics....
"Stiff back here," Dr. Shaye noted as we reviewed the side video, "and you're looking down at the display instead of straight ahead. I don't know if you do that when you run outside, but generally we want people to look out, not down, when they run. Keeping the head level places less strain on the neck and shoulders."
Moving on to the rear view...
"Hmmm, some swivel of the hips is ok, but you have a fair amount of movement in the pelvic region. This could be attributed to weak glutes or abs, or both. These muscles stabilize the hips as your weight shifts from side to side."
"Your shoulders are level - not a lot of shifting from one side of body to the other - that's good. Just a little bit of the arms are crossing the body. That's good - a little shoulder rotation is normal, but too much and you're wasting energy and throwing your body off balance."
"Your legs are coming straight back, your hips, knees and ankles in alignment. "
 "Foot plant is ok...although you're kicking your right toes out a little too wide when you land. That could be a shoe issue or a mechanical issue. Shoes are the least intrusive fix available -- make sure you change your shoes at least every 500 miles or so."
Dr. Shaye also reviewed a post-run foot scan. The scan illuminates the state of your arches and if your weight is evenly distributed when in a standing position.
"We're seeing a little collapse of the left arch, that's to be expected," Dr. Shaye says.
"For a woman my age?"
"For a runner who's logging a lot of miles and is in their 40s."
Good recovery, doc.
"Overall you have the efficient stride we'd expect to see in a long-distance runner," Dr. Shaye concluded.
Now for the tough question - what will help me get back that "I love to run" feeling?
"You might be overtraining. Add more cross-training and decrease your mileage for a week or so and see if you're enjoying your runs again."
And since Dr. Shaye's PB for a half-marathon is the Colonial Half, any training tips?
"It's a really hilly course. You already have tight hamstrings, which might be shortening your stride. Make sure you warm up and stretch properly before you run and afterwards when the muscles are warm - you might be able to lengthen your stride without compromising your form."
"And smile. Remember, you're running because you want to."
Help Ann reclaim her running mojo. Email your suggestions to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
A-1 Performance Chiropractic
1307 Jamestown Road
Williamsburg, VA 23185
(757) 229-4161
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