strides

[chatteris64]

this is my second time at doing cto5k & my husband & I went running together today (I’m on week 5) my husband thought my strides were very small & wondered if I should be making them longer. Much shorter than when I do my warm up walk.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate]

Does your husband have any sort of expertise on which he’s basing that judgement?

There’s an article from Runner’s World here talking about stride length. The take home message to the question “should you change your stride length” is “probably not” because most runners naturally choose the most efficient stride length for themselves. Overstriding seems to be a bigger problem with leading to injuries than short strides.

runnersworld.com/training/a...

[chatteris64 Graduate in reply to MissUnderstanding]

thank you for info I’m only five foot with size 2 feet. That probably answers the questions.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate in reply to chatteris64]

That seems like a clear explanation to me!

[Cmoi Graduate]

MissUnderstanding has already said what I was going to chatteris64 !

I'll just add that I'm guessing that your husband is taller than you are, and therefore probably has a naturally longer stride. I'm five-foot-nothing with short legs even for my height. I take teeny-weeny little strides, but my cadence (steps per minute) is naturally very high. On a good day I run like the Duracell bunny... 😉🐰🤣

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate in reply to Cmoi]

I’m quite tall at 5ft 7 but my husband is a leggy giant at 6ft5… there’s a big difference in height. I always feel at a bit of a disadvantage when we run together. He is useful for getting high things off cupboards though!!

I’m absolutely loving the Duracell bunny image!

[Cmoi Graduate in reply to MissUnderstanding]

I've been known to climb onto the bottom supermarket shelf to get stuff off the top one. I'm also expert at using one cereal packet to knock down another, as well as complex coat-hanger manoeuvres!

Duracell bunny is when I'm on top form, the rest of the time I look like a bonsai ent...

[chatteris64 Graduate in reply to Cmoi]

that sounds like me everything is always on the top self. As for Duracell bunny I wish, I’m still very slow.

[Cmoi Graduate in reply to chatteris64]

Duracell bunnies don't care about speed, they just keep going (on and on and on...!) 😉

[Teresa1632 Graduate]

Shorter strides are good for running up hills. Short strides are also good for preventing injury. Both with increased cadence. Tell your husband you are running just fine 😊. Arm drive is also important, pump your arms and your legs will follow as you take off and leave him for dust 😉😉

[chatteris64 Graduate in reply to Teresa1632]

sounds like I’m just doing fine, must admit I don’t swing my arms will give it a go.

[Floradora2 Graduate]

I take short strides and it is how I am comfortable running. I think it can be difficult running with others as, in order to stay together, one may have to run more slowly or speed up. My husband and I started C25K together but, by week 8 or so it was becoming increasingly difficult to stick together all the way round. When he started running around me like a sheep dog I had to suggest that maybe we should start off together and then each run at our own pace.

[chatteris64 Graduate in reply to Floradora2]

I felt a bit bad running with my husband even tho the company was nice he’s much faster than me so he was waiting for me all the time. Best I think we run separately,

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate in reply to chatteris64]

It’s tricky! Mine is new to running but naturally quick due to the excess leg length and a high natural fitness level (yes-I am irrationally jealous!!). What works for us is to either do slow, chatty runs where the objective is to have a nice time out together and going slowly is a good thing, or start off together and meet at home later. I think I’d find the running ahead and waiting a bit demoralising. Luckily, I tend to run longer and slower so my husband has made the coffee by the time I get back!

[Floradora2 Graduate]

my husband was trying to be supportive but it was driving me mad as I felt pressured into running faster. He would do an extra loop of the housing estate and then would be waiting for me and almost running on the spot. Interestingly, he has stopped running whilst I’ve kept it up. Our original aim was to do Parkrun together.

[chatteris64 Graduate in reply to Floradora2]

mine is to but bless him he’s so much faster than me. Don’t think I will ever be quick but bubbling along is just fine.

[GoogleMe Graduate]

I'm 168cms tall, have very short stride length and people can walk alongside me whilst I run.... but I've been running for almost exactly 11 years and to date have not had an injury (apart from the effects of being chased by brambles etc)

[chatteris64 Graduate in reply to GoogleMe]

beginning to think I’m doing okay out there. Just no if I try bigger strikes I will be tired. Last run of week 5 today so 20 mins at snails pace.

[GoogleMe Graduate in reply to chatteris64]

I reckon reaching further than feels natural will increase the chances of hitting the ground heel first.

[Bubulrap Graduate]

Taking longer strides than feels right for you can result in "heel strike" which consequently can result in injury.

[chatteris64 Graduate in reply to Bubulrap]

thank you for your reply, I did try longer strikes & it felt not right so happier doing my short strikes