How Running Off Road Can Help You Overcome Injury Problems!

Since switching to running off road [ grass -sand] I've been able to run four days in a row and felt my calf muscle get stronger with each run.
Amazingly running on the very springy grass oval at the side of Victoria park I've found I can run really fast without any problems, getting down to 5.13 pace for a 400m loop!
I've been starting my runs with a 3/4 mile warm up walk down to the park, followed by an easy run round the velvet trail. finishing off with some strides [30 sec run-30 walk] on the grass oval and also gradually adding some 400m loops at a good pace.
On my run home on the road I've followed Sarah Halls advice and run really slowly with a shortened stride to avoid the impact from the road.
As soon I finish my runs I make sure to stretch out the calf muscles which should help the new muscle fibers from shortening and becoming injured again!
Fri
1/2 mile walk followed by run to Busters lagoon and back, then 4 x 400m and strides [max 14.2 mph] on grass oval = 1 hour 16 mins
Thur
3/4 mile walk followed by run round the Velvet Trail then 3x 400m and strides on grass
=45 mins
Wed
Visit to Sarah Hall for treatment on calf.
3/4 mile walk followed by very easy run round the Velvet Trail then strides on grass oval
= 40 mins
Tue
Ran to park but calf started to lock up after only 3/4 mile on road!
Walked for a bit then did some easy strides on grass oval.
Calf very sore after run :0[
Mon
Bike ride with 5 x 1 mile hill loops pushed very hard.
= 42 mins

Is barefoot running on Tarmac Natural for the body?
If you look at Kenyan runners who ran barefoot from an early age you will find that they did this on soft dirt roads and not unforgiving hard surfaces such as Tarmac or concrete!
Based on my own findings using the Saucony Hattori I think I'll keep them for fast sessions on the grass only, I think my body needs more padding when road running!
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Managing injuries for a speedy comeback!

RUNNING LIGHT
Most injuries happen for a reason and the first thing to do after getting injured is find the cause, in my case I tried out a technique I'd seen on youtube, the idea was to drive your foot into the ground to increase energy return! Big mistake, all it did was increase impact and lead to my calf pull!
Talking to Barry about my injury he said I should be working towards running as light on my feet as possible, to accomplish this I should concentrate on knee lift!
ACTIVE TEST
Try this; Run on the spot, concentrate on your feet landing on the floor, now switch to concentrating on lifting your knees, feel the difference! Out on the road I've found just concentrating on lifting my knees a little really makes a hugh different to running lighter and my calf muscle is thanking me for it!
Jack Nirenstein of GRAVITY RUNNING said this;
Uphill running uses a different range of motion for your legs. They lift higher and come down less. The feet do not reach as far forward, which makes the stride shorter. Gravity is still the only force that moves you forward but the feet do not go behind as far for gravity to pull you as fast. The landing is not as hard because it is soft like running up steps and not hard like running down steps. The higher lift and more strides to go forward, make it harder on the muscles. You need to train on hills to get stronger for them.
I also found this bit of advise from elite women's runner Kara Goucher on running uphill; LEGS: "Push your legs off and up, rather than into, the hill," says Goucher. This helps you feel "light," as if you're "springing" up the hill.
Video on using knee lift for improved running
What is good running form
I've followed the advise from my chiropractor and run easy every day, trying to keep below the point where the calf starts hurting, I seem to be making good progress!
Sat 4th Calf quite sore, managed 36 mins of slow running with a few walk breaks.
Sun 5th Run with Jon, sandhill 6, worried that the calf might break down again but once running felt a lot better than yesterday! = 57 mins
Mon 6th Run with Niz for 21 mins then I set off for a run over the sandhill paths, again an improvement with my calf and finished gradually increasing the the pace at the end without any bad side effects = 42 mins + 21 mins
Tue 7th
Was able to run at an easy aerobic pace before reaching the pain barrier of my calf muscle, inc a few faster sections, another improvement. Sandhill 6 plus run down and back = 1.11
Wed 8th
Good improvement again today, was able to maintain my normal easy aerobic pace with no real pain apart from a slight niggle from time to time. ran with Tess over the big sandhills working on knee lift, felt good! = 1.30

SIDELINED!

After my hill efforts on Monday I finished with 20 mins of steady running, after 10 my left calf tightened up and then started to lock, dam what a bummer, seems like my old sciatic problem has returned to haunt me again!
I rested Tue and by Wed I was pain free! I set off steady but after a mile the calf suddenly locked without warning, leaving me to hobble home.
I guess that's the end of the road for me! I've booked an appointment with my local chiropractor for Friday, usually one treatment is enough to sort me out!
I know its the sciatic nerve thats the problem, as there is no pain if I do deep pressure massage on the calf and also the pain was moving around my foot and shin before the calf locked!
HERE IS A GREAT ARTICLE ON RUNNING BY PETER MAGILL [check it out!]
Morning Read: The Older We Get, The Younger We Feel