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Running class aims to improve fitness scores, prevent injuries

  • Published
  • By Jake Chappelle
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD FIELD, Wash. --  Poor conditioning isn't always the culprit for low fitness assessment scores. Sometimes it's a matter of the way one trains as opposed to the frequency - especially when it comes to running form.

But how do Citizen Airmen recognize if their technique needs work, or if they're on the right track?

The Health and Wellness Center here offers a semi-monthly running clinic to help Airmen identify potential running weaknesses and provide solutions to prevent injuries while improving fit scores.

"The Health and Wellness Center is a great resource all around," said Maj. Robert Maañao, 446th Force Support Squadron fitness assessment manager. "One of the challenging portions of the fitness assessment - myself included - is the running portion. Those who participate in full- or half-marathons may not think much of our one-and-a-half-mile run, but it's definitely a challenge for most Airmen that I know."

Patrick Conway, an exercise physiologist at the HAWC, has been running the clinic here for the last three years.

Conway first films the students' running form. Then he teaches mechanics of running, basic principles of training and how to avoid common injuries. He then shows the runners their videos to compare their form with the course material. Afterwards students apply the new techniques during another recorded run to measure their improvements.

As the wing fitness program manager, Maañao sees too many Reservists hurt themselves during the running piece of the fit test.

"I have learned of too many Airmen getting injured during the run portion in particular, and [the clinic] is a great approach to stop that from happening," he said. "It's a way to gain insight to the details of running that can be taken for granted. It's also a wonderful way to learn about common approaches to improving run time and the pros and cons of each."

So far, Conway's class has helped participants drop about three minutes off of their run rimes while reducing physical pain.

"Most who take my class and apply the technique, report they run faster and have less pain and injuries," he said. "I've had people tell me they had stopped running due to pain and are now pain free and enjoy running again."

Citizen Airmen residing outside of the local area, or who can't make it to a scheduled class shouldn't feel excluded as they also have access to the running-improvement principles explained in the live clinic.

Conway recommends Airmen watch the video he plays in his classes, "The Principles of Natural Running," which can be found by visiting the website http://www.naturalrunningcenter.com/.

"It's one of best ones out there, which explains proper running form that is easy to apply and follow," he said. "It's about eight-minutes long. You can watch it there or go to YouTube and find it there under "Dr. Cucuzzella-Principles of Natural Running."

From the YouTube site, there are more videos about running which show the running classes, Conway said.

As far as the face-to-face clinic, Conway said he can take up to 18 students, and it's held in the McChord Annex.

Although Maañao has viewed the course video, he said he plans on attending the clinic.

"Personally, I believe fitness should be a normal piece of everyone's life - especially if you're truly striving to lead others by example," he said.

Members of 446th Airlift Wing interested in attending one of Patrick Conway's clinics, or who simply want more information, should call the HAWC at (253) 982-0528.