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Viewing what you’re doing

I’ve mentioned previously that my kids compete in various track events – pole vaulting, speed walking, etc. – and I regularly take short videos of them to provide feedback and show them their form.

But this time it was my turn – I was competing and asked one to video me.

It was an enlightening experience…
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Protective

That’s the word that came to mind when watching the video of my running form.

While watching, I saw that I was pulling my left arm in and up – protecting my ribs from injury and my shoulder from movement. Which is understandable after cracked ribs one summer and a broken shoulder the next. But the need to favor those areas is no longer necessary and has been holding me back.

But until I saw myself doing it, I just didn’t know.

And so now I’m training myself to let that go and get back to a more efficient arm swing – that should improve my speed.

Little things

Most people are embarrassed to watch themselves – saying something like “I really look like that?!”

But I think of it as a way to get feedback that others might never tell you – and not only in sports. Good public speakers will routinely watch videos of themselves, not only of rehearsal, but of an actual presentation – to find the areas where they need to improve and to hone their skills.

So setup a camera or a friend with a camera to record your next event – and see what you look like.

Perhaps it’ll show you what nobody felt like telling you;-)