All the parts are connected, we need a good landing for good loading. We need good loading for good propulsion AND we need good propulsion for a good landing.

There is a lot of conversation about heel strike or foot landing position for minimizing loading forces on the body. While it’s true that a foot strike closer into our center of mass minimizes the loading forces on the body, I think keeping the conversation focused on that misses the mark a bit.

What we really need is to optimize the way the lower body handles the load so that we can store elastic energy, get really stable especially through that mid stance to optimize that transfer of energy and then work on hip extension to propel us forward while taking advantage of the energy that we have stored with good loading and stability through mid-stance.

Even for someone who has a tendency toward overstriding, paying more attention to strength/stability through the middle and propulsion forward are the more important pieces in my opinion. Doing so will likely take care of the landing position while also significantly improving your overall running economy. That’s the magic right there! 

I have an uncontrollable habit of watching how people run. There so much that each stride can tell you about the needs of the body. Sometimes it takes a lot of constraint not to stop someone on the trail and say “you know you could use some…” I don’t do it, because that’s both weird and rude, but I definitely think it. It's not out of judgement by anymeans, but simply a genuine love for the sport and helping people feel and perform their best.

It's to the point that my husband now knows and whenever he sees a runner pass us while we’re out he asks “so, what did you think?”

Anyway, what’s crazy is, in all the years of analyzing others running (both by request and as my uncontrolled hobby), I’ve never done it for myself. In this post, we’ll look at my running gait and then how I would use what I see to design a strength training program tailored specifically to the needs of my body.​

After having my first, I was so anxious to get back to running. My identity was so wrapped up in “being a runner.” It was (is) my stress relief, my me time, the source of so many of my friendships, my main mode of physical fitness… 

… and in my mind, my ticket back to the “old me.” 

I started about 7 weeks postpartum and went out for a slow couple of miles. To be honest, I peed my pants A LOT. I accepted it as my new postpartum normal and just kept running. ​

It’s been hot AF here in South Carolina over the past few weeks and I’ve definitely been feeling it on my runs. 

Oh how I miss my pre-motherhood days of just being able to get up and run without worrying about anyone else… 

It’s been 8:30 or 9:00 and already almost 90 by the time I get out the door lately after taking care of the kiddos and making sure my breasts are empty enough to run (I’m probably overly cautious with this one but I do NOT want mastitis again!).
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These are a few of my favorite things (raindrops on roses, whiskers on kittens… sorry I can’t not sing that song when I hear that line). They are mostly practical, but also with a little bit of fun…

Here is your Living Room Workout Club Holiday Fit Gift Guide! ​
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For a mom looking to start a new fitness routine or create a healthy lifestyle, the two main obstacles are time and energy.

I’ve written already on how to be more efficient with your time and talked about how you can squeeze it in when you can, but to even get there you need E.N.E.R.G.Y.

Of course, the first thing to address regarding energy is sleep, but if you are like many moms how much sleep you are getting is out of your control. However, if you aren’t getting as much sleep as you could be getting (honestly), you really should check yourself!

Here are 3 things you can control that will help you get your energy back. 
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