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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…
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;-)
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Posted in Perspective
