Philosophy

Body Knowing

Our bodies are the most sophisticated and valuable piece of equipment that we own. Within our reach is the ability to tap into its energetic potential. This can have a positive effect on virtually every area of our lives.

Radiant Running is an awareness / movement based therapeutic approach to performance, and injury prevention and rehabilitation, that teaches the body to move with its natural grace and potential: efficiently, fluidly, powerfully, and effortlessly.

The sense of clarity, freedom of movement and ease that we associate with our best moments is totally within our ability to learn and apply to anything we do.

Practical Application for Runners

As a sport, running is notorious for producing a variety of injuries, and most runners will be injured or experience pain and injury at some point. Many more people will quit or avoid running altogether because of injury and the threat of damage to the joints. With its practical application of physics, biomechanics, and body use, Radiant Running virtually takes the pain and difficulty out of running making it accessible to many who have given up on it. Radiant Running also sets the stage for improved performance in the form of increased capacity for intensity and endurance training.

When teaching the basic principles of efficient movement to runners, Radiant Running takes into account body type, ability, current pain or injury (if applicable), and form. The goal is to take the pounding, pain and potential damage out of running, and turn it into a lifelong pursuit that is safe and promotes health, fitness, and personal achievement.

What Makes Radiant Running Different?

Q: How is Radiant Running different? Why does it have a beneficial and healing
effect on muscles, ligaments and joints?

A: Radiant running applies movement principles similar to the Martial
Arts, Pilates, and Yoga to produce the beauty of fluid balanced form. This is
accomplished with a shift in the focus of force production from the
peripheral muscles of the thighs and legs, to the powerful muscles of the core,
pelvis and hips. Also maximizing the use of gravity, ground reaction, and
momentum (see “Running Form and the Three Natural Forces”).

This Results In:

Decreased contraction and Increased resiliency in the muscles of the legs. It is the tightness and loss of muscle resiliency that is responsible for many of the garden-variety injuries that plague runners.

Improved transmission of forces of impact through muscles, tendons, and joints. This means decreased pounding and impact on the body.

Less holding and tension in muscles that control the movement of the joints. This has a beneficial effect on joint range of motion, muscle balance around joints, and natural harmonious “ride” and lubrication of the joints.

Running economy: the maximum use of gravity, ground reaction, and momentum creates a decreased need for fuel, and conservation of stored glycogen.

Specific training around relaxation allows the body to achieve symmetry and balance in muscles and posture and ease in running form.

Relaxed, resilient muscles allow for increased duration and intensity in training and quicker recovery from workouts.

Free initial consultations and assessments. E-mail Douglas or call 303-499-2062 , for an appointment.

Click here to see what clients say about Radiant Running.

Injury Straight Talk

The impact of injury on the passionate runner is huge! Injury can wreak havoc on your training schedule, or even worse, sideline you completely. But I have found that the chance of injury can be virtually elminated when you learn the basics of good running form and body use.

Most injury and running related chronic pain conditions are avoidable or reversible through efficient running. It’s all about learning how to do it, and it’s as teachable as learning to swing a golf club.

Often an injury is part of an equation – "A" plus "B" plus "C" equals pain. As an example: "A" might be excessive pounding, "B" might be the time factor such as 10 years, and "C" could be worn out running shoes. You start to have pain in your knee joint and your realize that your running shoes are worn out. So you buy new shoes and the symptoms go away. But if you add another 5 years of excessive wear and tear to the equation, new shoes might no longer help. At this point the excessive pounding in your form carries the equation into the pain. It is clearly in a runner’s best interest to address the inefficiencies in form to avoid discouraging limitations in the future.

For more detailed examples of common injuries and their related form and posture problems, click here.