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Running Technique
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Running Tip: Keep Your Eyes on the Horizon
When your mom told you stand up straight, you probably had no idea that she was also helping your running technique. Running efficiently and pain free has a lot to do with your posture. Keep your head in line with your spine, your shoulders relaxed, and your torso over your hips.
There Really Is Not One Right Way to Run
When it comes to endurance, long-distance running as opposed to sprinting short distances like Jamaican gold medalist and record breaker Usain Bolt (100m, 200m), there is not just one way to run.
There are many techniques out there and almost as many variations as there are runners. When watching the men's marathon (yes, I watched the men's marathon, which I guess establishes me as a running geek even if my weekly mileage doesn't), I kept using my DVR to pause the action and try to figure out where these elite runners strike: heel, midfoot, or toe.
Running Technique: Where Do You Strike?
Runners have an ongoing debate about technique and what part of the foot is better to land (strike) on.
Some say landing on the heel of the foot prevents injury to the calves and Achilles tendon, and is great if you're running long distances. Other runners say that landing on the ball of the foot is easier on your knees and other joints and that it makes you feel lighter, which is great when you are sprinting or trying to run faster.
What Is the Deal With: My Upper Body When I Run?
Running...it seems like it should be the most natural thing in the world to do, but like all good things there is technique. What to do with your upper body can get confusing, since it is just riding on the legs that are doing all the work.
Here are some tips on running form:
- Your torso should be upright, with chest up and plenty of room for the diaphragm to work correctly.
Other Search Results
What's the Deal With: Pose Method of Running
We all know how to walk and we all know how to run, right? The answer according to Dr. Nicholas Romanov, developer of the Pose Running Technique, is a resounding "NO."
Cross Train With Every Step
If you're training for a marathon and logging 40-plus miles a week, there is one physical activity you still do much, much more than running: walking. With every step you take, you can better prepare your body for running. Here's how to cross train with every step:
- Posture: The alignment of your spine, pelvis, and ribcage is an important element of being an efficient runner.
Looking For Motivation: Use Your Imagination
We all hit slumps, when we either don't want to exercise or working out just doesn't feel as good as it used to. When you hit the wall, using your imagination can help motivate you to get up and get moving.
Imagining your workout, be it running or rowing, activates the same part of your brain as actually doing the activity.
Learn to Love: Running Downhill
It has taken me considerably longer to reconcile my negative feelings of running downhill with the power I feel running up the other side. Unlike biking down a descent where gravity pulls you along, running downhill is work and it's hard on your quads and knees. In my neck of the woods though, it's difficult to find a flat run so I've had to cultivate a love of running downhill.
Get It Up, Your Heart Rate That Is: Swimming
I know many runners and cyclists who though tempted by the triathlon ultimately skip these races because they're intimidated by the swim. I found a useful piece of advice about training for tris in, of all places, Runner's World.
Swimming, unlike running, is considered a "skill sport" similar to tennis or golf so technique is important.
Reese Witherspoon Strikes Midfoot
We have seen a many photos recently of Reese Witherspoon playing softball, and it looks like she will be running in her upcoming film, too.
It's nice to have a job that keeps you active. It also looks Reese is midfoot striker, which is good running technique.
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