REAL STORIES by REAL PEOPLE
A collection of articles on various POSE and other running related topics written by and/or about Pose Method Certified Coaches and Pose Runners of all levels.
POSETECH.COM (USA)
March 1, 2006
What has Dr. Romanov invented? How is the Pose Method anything new?
by Severin Romanov
No one questions that the earth is round, or that certain fruits can roll down a hill better than others. Yet someone still "invented" the wheel. Characteristics of the wheel were around well before someone decided to invent it.
The same is true for the automobile. Motors existed - wheels did too. Will anyone argue that the automobile was not an invention? Probably not. In layman's terms, an invention is a novel (strikingly new) device, material, or technique.
The Pose Method of Running is a technique of running; it is not, one foot in front of another. The Pose Method is centered around shifting support from one foot to the other through the application and use of gravity, to go from one Pose to the next Pose. Hence the name, Pose Method of Running. By definition, the Pose Method is an invention. Dr. Romanov analyzed the differences between good and bad runners and formulated a basic model, the Pose Model. Without a model, replication is impossible because "good form" gets lost in translation.
Every new person's take on someone else's interpretation conjures up yet another mutation to what some might call, very broadly, as good or "traditional technique". There is no technique for doing something "arbitrary." So good running without a standard simply does not exist. If you say someone is running well, who are you comparing that runner to? A certain runner with good race times or what you might think is correct running?
Using the Pose Model as the basis of his method, Dr. Romanov incorporated numerous research studies into his method. Using their data, not their conclusions, Dr. Romanov assembled a new theory of movement and a method of teaching it through the use of drills, strength exercises, and standards.
Yet many still argue that the Pose Method is not really an invention, but a synthesis of many previous findings. Is that not what many other inventions were - a new spin on something old? Invention is taking the old and improving it through new ideas that make better use of the old norms. The Pose Method makes a conclusion in areas where no one else ever has. It's a method of running, we're sorry that it won't fetch your paper in the morning; rest assured many more inventions (pun intended) are on the horizon! Some continue to argue that the Pose Method is not a new way to run. A new way to run would be on your hands, we don't claim that.
Running is merely a means of movement. Dancing is dancing, but there is the tango, the waltz, etc. Running is running, Pose Method is a new way to run; Dr. Romanov simply invented a more efficient and injury-free way to run.
Like many things in our history, running has been established for a long time. People have run Marathons, injured themselves, and then ran some more. Runners bought more cushion, took more pills, and continued running.
Conventional wisdom became that there is no gain without pain in running. Runners started to call their work-outs with harsh verbs of masochism. You haven't met a real runner until you've heard the phrase "I just hammered 15 miles." To an outsider, this sounds more like building wooden railroad tracks, than an enjoyable workout that millions love to do. Or worse, for competition, because many would ask, why do you do it?
Runners don't get paid to be star athletes, and unless you're one of the few who run Marathon's in under 2:08:00 you probably don't get any fame either.
Runners run - to run. And until recently they have only created a market to rehabilitate themselves, instead of teach themselves. If more runners were interested in, or at least open to the idea of change, there would be hardly anyone selling orthotics or cushion shoes. It has become a comic staple of the community. "There are runners who run better and faster than you. But you cannot run like them, ever. They use the best pain killers."
In reality there are good runners, and they do run effectively. But there is no one to teach everyone else how to run that way. Effectively is not a method of running, neither is fast, nor long slow distance for instance.
It would be hard to learn something if someone told you to "create a spreadsheet and go from there." Your question undoubtedly would be, "how do I create a spreadsheet?" Of course at this point the response would be, "there are some rules you should follow in order to do it correctly. First, label all of your titles, next input the data sequentially, and finally create a summary." At this point, you're supposed to say, aha, right I get it now. And many runners do. But the fact remains that we are instructed to do this and that, without really being told anything at all. And because running is regarded as so "easy," just one foot in front of the other - many are afraid to admit that we really don't know how to run.
Until Dr. Romanov, there were no methods for teaching any kind of running technique. Many great runners and coaches described how they ran, what they did, but gave no clear explanation of what to do, and how to systematically replicate their great form.
It left the "discovery of the wheel" for every runner to discover on his/her own. Scientists isolated aspects of "good" form tested them, untested them, and invariably came to no conclusions. One study after another, they would conclude that although this does that, we cannot be sure of its application in the real world. With such skepticism it is very unlikely that they would have ever gotten anywhere at all.
The Pose Method brings an understanding to the field of running that has never been achieved before. Now there is a standard to adhere to, a guideline to follow. Now there is a systematic way of running, for everybody - recreational to elite and all the competitive runners in between. The Pose Method is "an excellent source of clearly explained, specific, testable, and pragmatic instruction on running form."
The Pose Method has been researched with positive findings to reduce stress on the knees. The same experiment showed that the stress on the ankle was increased with the Pose Method as opposed heel striking. You're saying aha! I knew there was a catch, but think of it this way; would you rather ride in a car with a suspension, or a rigid metal rod in place of a suspension? Would you rather land with your knee bent or with your knee rigidly straight? Comparing Pose to your car really puts things into perspective.
Looking back at the experiment the fact is yes, the ankle does have less stress on it during heel striking. What scientists' overlook is why? It's simply because the ankle does not play an integral role in heel-strike landing, or to make it short, because it isn't used as much. However, your foot's ankle was meant to flex, so were your knees. So if you keep your knees rigid and stiff, your knees take on the shock of both the ankle and the knees on landing, inadvertently putting less stress on your ankles. It's like using your back to lift something, measuring the results and concluding that lifting with your back reduces stress on your legs.
Yes it's true, but is that really what you want to do, get a strained back or hurt knees?
If you look at pure numbers, many will not see the vindication of the Pose Method and its benefits. Skeptics summarize the findings by saying Pose decreases stress in one place, but increases it in another. On the contrary, the Pose Method simply eases stress from the knees by balancing the stress of impact between the ankles and knees. If your ankles are now in use with the Pose Method, they are undoubtedly under more stress than before when they were not flexed at all. It's like saying your ankles endure more stress while walking than while sitting. Of course they do! The same stress occurs on your body at all times, "for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction." All the Pose Method does is balance the ground-reaction shock that your body already absorbs and disperses it evenly throughout the body.
You will get the same amount shock not matter how you run. The difference is how it's dispersed throughout your body. The question to those seeking to reduce all stress from running is "what are we trying to do here, run or fly?"
Invention: In lay terms, an invention is a novel device, material, or technique.
- Come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort.
- To devise by thinking.
- To produce (as something useful) for the first time through the use of the imagination or of ingenious thinking and experiment
Method: a way of doing something, especially a systematic way; implies an orderly logical arrangement (usually in steps)
- Orderly arrangement of parts or steps to accomplish an end.
- The procedures and techniques characteristic of a particular discipline or field of knowledge.
Arbitrary: Determined by chance, whim, or impulse, and not by necessity, reason, or principle.
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