What do YOU think Wednesdays - Part 1

cough cough, good morning, cough cough.

I should've done a vlog to show you just how irresistible and sexily raspy I sound today.

Thing is, my voice decided it doesn't like my body anymore and deserted me. I took a day off from work yesterday to try to recover, but the words "Rest" and "Julia" don't match quite as well as"peanut butter" and "chocolate". (But on second thought... does anything?) I failed and went to the gym. I mean... I was watching p90X commercials on TV all morning long... can you blame me?

While I wait for my throat to recover so I can actually breathe so I can run, I would like to introduce you to the first edition of "What do YOU think Wednesdays".

Every week, I'm going to share with you a piece of cyberspace that made me stop and think.... and I hope you can take a moment to stop and think with me too! I mean, two heads are better than one, four heads are better than three, ten heads are better than nine and a half... :) It'll be mostly running and health related stuff, but I'll mix it up every now and then with some spice, because gasp!I do think about non-running things as well :)

The first piece of cyberspace I am sharing with you is:
Running Tips: Your Stride Guide from self.com. I'm not a big fan of the magazine nor the website, (too much fluff, IMO) but I found this video to be really interesting. Gail Devers, an Olympian, analyzes the running form of regular people. Check it out:


Most videos I've found analyzes the form of good runners. Problem is, I am nowhere NEAR being a good runner. But this video: I can relate to these women, and I actually saw some of my own mistakes being pointed out.

For instance, like Shira and Missy, I run way too upright. I read somewhere that you should lean forward slightly from your ankles. I've been trying this lately, and I find that it does make me faster with less effort. I need to continue to make this a habit. Fast is good. :)

Gail also mentions that you need to keep your feet flexed while analyzing Tiffany. I have never heard this nor tried this. Any thoughts?

Another aspect I am trying to focus on is hip strength. Though Gail doesn't touch on it directly, I notice that if I lose even a little focus, my hips start swaying. I have been keeping up with my new year's resolution to work on hip strength at least twice a week, and I hope to build up enough hip strength so that I can run faster and more safely.

So here's the part where you come in:

• Do you identify with any of the runners in the video?
• Do you have one particular form issue you are working on?
• What are your thoughts about the whole keeping your foot flexed thing?

I'd LOOOOOOVE for you to share your thoughts!