On a recent Parkrun an experienced runner said to me that if he could give any new runner advice he would tell them to learn how to run efficiently and he wished he had done that far sooner than he did.
I gave this some thought and then delved into google world to find out what he meant.
Using some of this new found google running technique knowledge i have on my last two runs forced myself to run with shorter strides and to quicken my steps to go faster as opposed to lengthening my strides stretching out in front. I also forced myself to keep my head up, shoulders not slouched and used my arms to help my forward motion.
I noticed that by taking these points on board i was able to run for longer, wasn't as physically tired and bizarrely my pace was faster !!
Clearly i will never be aerodynamic given my top heavy size but i would like to learn more about how to expend my energy more efficiently to make me a better runner and also make running more pleasurable.
Is there a "go to" how to learn to run properly and efficiently website / blog which identifies the real key points to take on board?
Obviously me trying out the techniques outlined above has had a real positive impact.
The guy also mentioned that no-one teaches us how to run and again, thinking about it, i think he is right.
It is great when you can adapt and make yourself better at running or make it easier - although changing my technique has given me aches where previously there were none
That’s really interesting! I definitely notice when I take shorter, faster strides things seem a bit easier, dare I say more efficient! Less so if I’m striding out. And keeping the head up and shoulders relaxed helps too. But it’s remembering to do it all 🤣. More often than not the wheels come off, especially towards the end of a long run, and I’m always relieved the form police aren’t out and about! 😊😊😊
Absolutely they do. I had to keep putting them back on throughout the run. 🤣🤣🤣
I found it really strange taking shorter strides to go faster by moving my legs quicker but blimey, it was much easier on my breathing than taking longer faster strides.
So I used to run, competitively, as sprinter back in my heydays. And my coach used to absolutely go ape s*** if I didn’t focus on my form. But to hold your form one has to have a bit of core strength. Otherwise you’re right the wheels come off, literally. It happened to me many a time on the home straight of a a 400 meter race. At one of the park runs a chap came over and complemented my running style (I wasn’t aware I had one🤣). He asked me how I can move quickly while looking effortless. That’s when I realised why my coach was a stickler for form. So when I go out for my runs nowadays, I avoid the temptation to elongate my stride. I just chop and bounce. Choosing the right music is sometimes a big help as it gives me a tempo to run too.
I'm going out on my week 9 run 3 tonight (can't believe I've got that far) will definitely try & take this advice on board but do struggle with multi tasking - remembering to breath, keep my body & head up and concentrate on my foot work might all be to much, but I'll give it a go, thank you for the advice😂
I was mindful of this post when going out doing my intervals run this morning.
In the slow sections I was doing a "shuffle" at about 160spm at 100cm stride length (about 6min/km) and in the fast sections I was "striding" at about 175spm at 125cm stride length, back straight, head up, pushing with my toes and kicking back a little (about 4'30"/km).
I wouldn't be able to sustain the fast speed for more than a couple of minutes at a time, though!
I've been trying to get my cadence up by taking little steps. I'm quite chuffed that my cadence was up in the high 170s and even up to 180 this evening. I've got a book by Mark Cucuzzella called run for your life. It has a fair bit about running efficiently and drills to help with form. It is actually too dense with info for me at the moment, but I'm sure I'll keep dipping into it as I progress.
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