04/09/2026
More NOTES on the RUN WHiSPERiNG METHOD:
The USE of (OR the ART) of CRITICAL THINKING
Another post to try to explain and further elaborate the 'Running Whisperer' method and how it has been evolved over time.
In this instance, it is the use of ‘CRITICAL THINKING’ to help develop solutions and solve your running and movement issues.
These solutions are a direct result of 'significant' CONSIDERATION of your running and movement - through OBSERVATION, DISCUSSION, QUESTIONING, ASSESSING, and building BODY AWARENESS. I am sure most of my athletes are tired of hearing after a run, 'how did that feel', and then having to answer questions arising from their answer.
This is supplemented with providing ongoing FEEDBACK in a logical, and plain manner, with continuous REFLECTION of the process and above all LISTENING. This process enables me to gain a comprehension of your general movement skills and FURTHER build a strategy to take us forward.
An idea of the sort of framework I use would be:
* Significant observation coupled by continual enquiry (questions), leading to
* Identification of problem/s
* Create an inference on why the problem exists and how it could be solved
* Investigate (trial) solutions to collect ‘individualised’ knowledge of their efficacy and effect on your issue/problem
* Analyse 'veracity' of the solutions, including consideration of their practicality
- and then develop further variations to the solutions iteratively
A significant requirement in this process is a significant amount of OBJECTIVITY, i.e. not allowing any assumptions or past experiences to influence the development of a solution to your issues. It should also be noted, this also requires REFLECTION on MY EXISTING SKILLSET, and whether I may need to adapt or sometimes even ‘INVENT’ a way to adjust your movement to give you a perception of any inappropriate or ‘competing’ movement......... and, all this in half an hour!!!!
Probably the two biggest takeaways here for any budding coach is to: QUESTION EVERYTHING AND PRESUME NOTHING, and YOUR SKILLSET IS EVER EVOLVING (TIL THE DAY YOU DIE)
Just as a great example of 'critical thinking' in my coaching is …... in recently trying to identify why one of my younger athletes who had a significant issue with his initial acceleration.
I was able to 'discover' that apparently in a significant number of athletes, they innervate (turn on/activate) their non-dominant leg differently to their favourite or dominant leg. This seems to be one of the prime causes for the non-dominant leg to have a longer and slower ground contact and as such a different 'gait' to their dominant leg. A long winded way of saying it must cause someone to run or accelerate slower.
If you like, to put it simplistically, you can only run as fast as your ’slowest’ leg!!
This has led me to SOME of the biggest learning point (and cues) in all of my 35 years. And currently shapes the way all my sessions ARE NOW run!!!!!
And what is this SOLUTION I hear you ask, well THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY TO FIND OUT ..........
