Regardless, any extra gestures you do will slow you down, so it's not a good idea. Base running in general is sketch - as the VT player who struckout and didn't go full speed to first and was thrown out by the catcher really has no excuse - as kids are taught in high school to just bust ass and worry about the outcome after you cross first base. Granted, I think the catcher caught it and it would have been overturned had he been safe, but it was a really important play in a 1 run ballgame.