Thursday, May 8, 2014

Runner's World mobility test provides a small victory

I like to think of myself as being relatively fit, but when a Runner's World fitness test offers the opportunity to prove that perception, I often decline.

Part of the problem is that I like to read before bed, then sleep off any ambition the articles might've stirred up.

Most of the problem is that I don't want to find out everything that's wrong with my running form, my strength, my flexibility, etc.

The mobility test in May's issue looked so easy, though, and I was so awake when I read it that I decided to actually take it.

I figured I would fail all three. The backs of my legs, from waist to ankle, have always been tight. Evidently I can blame my bad feet for that, which is some comfort but no cure.

Part one tested my ankles' mobility. I failed. Sort of a surprise, because I never think of my ankles, but not shocking.

Part two tested my hips' mobility. Another failure, this one far more expected. Deep into half marathon training for the past couple years, I'll notice stiffness and soreness there.

Part three tested my knees' mobility. I PASSED.

Given the difficulty I had simply prepping for the test — you lie on your stomach and loop a string around your foot, which is more coordination than I evidently have — I was waiting for an epic fail.

Instead, I got a victory. A double victory, really, because if you fail this test, it means your quads are tight, and that's what limits the knees' mobility.

So my knees are fine, and my quads — which are the stiffest for the longest after a half marathon — are are as well.

This might be the only time in my life when I consider 33 percent a passing score ... but I'll take it!

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