Welcome to Walking Lightly Over Terra Firma! Think Up. Lean Forward (from the ankle)
 

Imagine you're a graceful dancer gliding across the stage or perhaps a nimble cat, stealthily and effortlessly moving. That's the essence of walking lightly – a magical blend of balance, coordination, and poise. Let's unlock this secret together!

Somewhere long ago, you had your first serious fall. You may not even remember it, but it is locked away in the reptilian portion of your brain. The physical pain of that fall created an indelible imprint. Your body remembers.

Whenever and however it occurred, that uncontrolled fall happened in milliseconds. The hands hit the ground, and the gravel and grit dug into the flesh. You didn't feel the initial impact. The adrenaline instantaneously shot through your body. Your elbows slid along the ground, abrading your skin. Quickly followed by your knees sandpapering forward. At the same time, your body arched backward, attempting to thwart the imminent impact. With the head back, you take the blow on the chin. Over the years of teaching several thousand walkers and runners, about one in forty needed stitches to their chin from that fall. They took it on the chin.

An exchange on rec.running, a user group that existed before the World Wide Web and where I served as the Maintainer of the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions). It is where I originally went to have my answers questioned, especially about my championing ball/heel running since the late 70s. They were a wonderful group of runners from around the world that I had never met personally except for a few. They shared freely and participated in excellent dialogues on every possible aspect of running.  Much of my folklore of running came from my reflections and sharing of what I had learned and experienced over my years as a runner, Marathoner running coach, and, last but not least, Running Therapist.