POSE IN PRESS A collection of articles about Pose Method and Dr.Romanov in various publications.
BAHRAIN THIS MONTH (BAHRAIN)
Vol.9, Issue 2, February, 2005
Posing to Run
by Ravi Kalmady
Long distance runner Myrna Fouad Saliba was introduced to the Pose Method of running in Spring 2003 - and she has never looked back.
"Whether you run for pleasure or for racing, there's only one way to run economically and effortlessly," according to certified Pose method running coach Myrna Fouad Saliba.
Myrna, who also holds a Master's degree in Physical Education, emphasises the improved form and coordination, fewer injuries and faster recovery time, as well as the increased speed and flexibility the Pose method imparts.
"The Pose method is a skill, a technique based on biomechanics and physics," she continued. "It was developed by Dr. Nicholas Romanov, a former Russian athlete and scientist, now based in the US state of Florida."
 |
| Myrna Fouad Saliba, (right) Myrna running the Boston Marathon |
Myrna describes the method as "revolutionary" and "fast growing" and new to the Arab world. She says the conventional approach to running holds that you land on your heel and roll to push off.
"The Pose method prescribes just the opposite-that you land on the ball of your foot always under your general centre of mass and pull the foot off the ground rapidly," she explained. "This results in a body that is less subject to impact while being powered forward more efficiently."
Myrna, who has run in marathons in Chicago, Boston and Montreal, guarantees that anyone who attempts running barefoot will automatically land on the ball of his feet and not on his heels.
She remembers the Montreal Marathon, which included a 1K "fun run" for kids.
"All of them were leaning forward, landing their feet and fast picking of their feet quickly," she explained. "It was quite astonishing to see them running on sheer instinct the Pose way without being ever taught the method."
Myrna says that when you are running in Pose, you are running a few inches shorter than your normal height.
"You lean forward from your ankles, not your hips, to the point where you feel you are falling," she explained. "Keep an S-shape, with knees slightly bent at all times, pull your leg under your butt using your hamstring muscles and land under your general centre of mass on the balls of your feet with the heels slightly elevated from the ground."
Myrna stresses short and quick strides.
"All you are really doing is changing support by pulling your feet using hamstrings; the rest is all taken care of by Mother Nature and gravity," she continued.
"In Pose, we are trying to mimic barefoot running as much as possible, therefore shoes are not essential. They are only worn to protect the feet. Any shoes with thin soles, such as flat racers, are adequate.
Myrna's husband is Fouad Slaiba, a civil engineer who has worked in Bahrain for 33 years. Fouad is also a keen runner who participated in the Chicago Marathon 2003.
Their three daughters have also taken n active interest in running.
Myrna admits that she nearly quit on the 13th mile of the Chicago Marathon 2003 due to excruciating pain caused by a Morton neuroma. But she remembers the support from daughter Carla, an architect in Montreal, who participated in the Montreal 2003 and Ottawa 2003 half marathons.
"She said, 'Mother, finish the race even if you have to walk it…remember you told us to always finish what we start,' " Myrna recapped.
Youngest daughter Gaylee, who is finishing her Master's degree in Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, ran in both the Chicago 2003 and Boston 2004 marathons, while daughter Adeline, who holds Master's in Business Administration and a doctorate in Pharmacy, started running recently.
Myrna, acknowledges some initial problems with calf and having soleus muscles, but never felt the shooting pain of the Morton neuroma while running Pose.
"I bumped u my mileage last February to prepare for the Boston Marathon, and the pain started again," she recalled. "The marathon was catastrophic and several MRls…surgery was not an option."
However, Myrna underwent the surgery last September and was convalescing when I interviewed her.
"I'll only be running a half marathon in Disney, which will be a true test for the success or failure of the surgery," she remarked with a smile.
How can people in Bahrain get trained in the Pose method? There are many options, according to Myrna.
"There are several books, DVDs, VHS tapes and drill books you can order online from the official Pose method website," Myrna explained. "Plus, email consultations with certified coaches and phone consultations with Dr. Romanov are available; the online forums allow you to ask questions or to read what other runners are saying."
Though her travel schedule is primarily influenced by the fact that her daughters and husband live in different cities, Myrna comes to Bahrain periodically and will be available for consultations when she is here.
For information visit the Pose Method website, www.posetech.com.
Back to Top
|
