We’ve interviewed a group of runners. What do they have in common? They all attended one of our running workshops. We wanted to find out what they thought of the experience and how (if anything) it changed their running since. DISCLAIMER: No dogs where harmed in the writing of this interview! Read on!
Why do you run and what are your running goals?
1. I run because for years I convinced myself that I couldn’t and that I hated it but once I started running on a regular basis I realized the opposite. My running goals are to run as far as I can.
What made you choose to attend our workshop when you first went?
2. I wasn’t troubled by any serious injuries but as a relative newcomer I didn’t want them to start to develop. I believed that running is a skill that needs to be re-learned. The coaching combination of mountain runners, minimalist and natural movement tied in with my own interests and ideas.
Tell us about the changes (if any!) you have made to your running, racing and lifestyle since attending the course?
3. Posture. My posture was/is appalling. So I’m working at that but I needed a follow up coaching session to realize that I need to do more than just lift my chest. A life time of bad posture will take some working out. I need to work on cadence too. If those two start to come right maybe then I’ll be able to relax. From a lifestyle point of view I’m spending a lot of time “barefoot”. I am walking the dog in my five fingers and wearing Aqua Lites (ed: VivoBarefoot) around town. I am also doing more road and hard surface running which I used to avoid.
Niall Corrigan in action in the hills
Can you think of one thing that was particularly surprising to you about what you learned or experienced during the weekend workshop?
4. I was blown away by how quick a good coach can correct a bad technique and how simple a movement proper running is. The work comes afterward in imprinting the method but the initial transformation on the treadmill was very impressive.
What would you say to other runners considering whether this course is for them?
5. If you are considering this course then you are searching for something and this could very well be it. For the price of a couple of pairs of running shoes you get brilliant coaching, a unique experience and maybe an answer or two.
What’s the funniest thing that has happened to you since you began using the techniques taught on the course?
6. I was practicing running technique down on the Murrough near Wicklow on a nice sunny day. I was running along closing my eyes for a couple of steps then re-opening them to check in then closing them again. This was going really well and I started to increase the closed interval. I was flying along really feeling the ground with my feet and enjoying myself immensely when I ran into the dog. The silly mutt had stopped to sniff something right in the path, he wasn’t impressed. No harm done though.
Where would you like the ChampionsEverywhere team to take the programme in the future?
7. Maybe a little more focus on endurance running and maintaining form over ultra distances but that’s from a totally selfish point of view.
Anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
8. No matter what you want from your running I think you will get something from spending a weekend in the company of good coaches. You will get a lot more out of the experience than you expect, I know I did.
Thanks Niall for sharing your thoughts with us!