Yesterday I parked near some local tennis courts while getting ready to start my run. I pulled into the only shaded spot, which faced the courts. As I put on my shoes and limbered up I watched two players whacking balls back and forth.
At first, all I saw was two dudes hitting tennis balls. They weren't keeping score, or even finishing each volley, though they were both obviously very good. Warming up? Then I realized it was a teacher and a student. The teacher was feeding volleys across the net, the student was hitting them back, and back and forth until the ball went out of bounds. And when it did go out of bounds it was from the student. In fact, while I was watching the teacher never once hit it out. He seemed to have total control of his swing and the ball. The teacher's form was really great, he moved very easily and relaxed with a well-grooved measured swing that sent the ball smoothly yet smartly over the net, no doubt right where he wanted it. It was also apparent he had a lot more power in reserve. The student also got the ball back across smartly, but his swing was much faster, almost a little wild and definitely not relaxed. Less control, more effort, with nearly the same result.
That mastery of form is what I'm reaching for also with running. Comparing those two players was interesting, one smooth and relaxed with the confidence of experience with an ingrained pattern of proper motion, and one working much harder to get the same result, yet still less consistent.
It's like learning music or a language- you learn the rules, start with the basics, ingrain them with mindful practice until it becomes a natural part of you that you can perform with little or no thought of it, the state known as 'flow'.
Form is the key to masterful results. Awareness and study of practice over time is the way to good form. The learning and refining is likely endless. And fun.
Let's run!
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