Wakeup Call!
Wakeup Call!
I participated in a research study at UVM this week. The aim is to assess subjects’ biomechanics through a series of basic jumping and flexibility exercises and then film them doing a 1.5 mile time trial to determine if observed biomechanical imbalances might affect performance. The two groups of subjects are those under 30 and over 50, so measurements will be compared between the groups. All must be active runners and have recently raced. Full disclosure, I played a small role in designing the study and am helping to recruit older subjects to participate. I am also hoping to work with the two professors conducting this study on other projects. So, there was interest on my part to make a good showing.
The protocol seemed simple enough: demonstrate biomechanical integrity and then run the time trial. The second part was in my wheelhouse. We were on the indoor track I regularly use during the winter. I know that 1/10th of a mile track like the back of my hand. The first part was the wakeup call.
The session began with some warmups. Leg kicks while moving forward and then some quick side stepping back and forth for 20 yards. I felt like my limbs were sticks of wood with minimal flexibility. Then there were four dynamic single-legged jumps and landings and flexibility squats. Nothing fancy. The young student demonstrating them made it look simple enough. The 72 year-old who preceded me looked nimble doing them. Then it was my turn. My jumps barely made it off the ground and my landings had me falling left or right. The squats were a disaster. They needed three camera shots to establish a baseline and I had to go five or six times to get in three they could use. Even those were suspect I felt. I looked at my professors but they gave no hint of whether my lack of balance surprised them. It certainly had surprised me!
In fact, I was embarrassed. I do regular strength training and flexibility work but nothing quite like what I was being asked to do. It was obvious I had been missing the boat on some basic movements in my training. I sat down later that day and took stock of my routine. I added a couple of exercises that mimicked what I had been asked to do. If there is a Round 2, I want to be ready! But more important, I was seeing some gaps that needed filling.
The time trial went well enough. I was in my comfort zone with that, though my pace was only about what I had run a half marathon in earlier that fall. But all in all, it was a useful exercise, and certainly a wakeup call!