This may seem like a silly question but...

[Stephanie-j]

Is increasing distance over time about lengthening your stride or keeping your stride and going faster or does it depend on one's running "style"? I've been sneakily trying to go faster without my body realising for fear it might become uncooperative, to no avail. I am 5'5" and my legs, though on the chunky side, are not particularly short, yet my stride is geisha-like.

I realise this question sounds weird but it makes perfect sense in my head

[happierswimming Graduate]

yeeees, it makes sense in my head too I'm quite tall but my legs take short strides because that's how I walk. I've found it's very difficult to change stride length when running, just as it is when walking.. If you want to run faster, intervals are the way to go. Try the podcasts again, running at your normal pace during the walking parts and running faster during the running parts. Hope it works for you

[sfb350 Graduate]

I've just read Jeff Galloway's Book on Running. He talks about keeping your feet close to the ground (ie not wasting energy lifting your knees high) and running in a "gliding" style, by which I think he means as smoothly as possible.

Intervals are good for increasing speed, as are hill sessions as they build the strength in your legs. I've tried lengthening my stride but only for short periods at a time as I really have to concentrate on it - it doesn't seem to come naturally, except on downhill sections.

[Oldgirl Graduate]

I have asked myself this very same question and for good reason. Last year I graduated C25K in early December and was able to run 5K in 33 minutes quite soon after. Then in January I was struck down with what the doc called full blown Sciatica, now I could hardly walk for 5 weeks let alone run. Gradually I got the pain under control and back to gentle exercise, it took over 3 months though. I started jogging again and decided to do C25K all over again taking it easy. Graduated again in May and can now run 5K but to start with over 2 minutes slower. But why, because I have shortened my stride to protect my hip. So for the last 2 months I have been trying to go faster and also to take longer strides. I find it hard to maintain though, it is easier on a slight downhill I'm finding. Laura refers to a low motion when she said don't bounce so there again you have the gliding action. The problem you have to be careful for though is uneven ground/pavements, if you don't lift your feet it is quite easy to trip. I think you just have to experiment. I have managed to knock 2.1/2 minutes off my time the past 3 weeks and that has been done by mixing up my running (form of interval training) seems to be working too.

[Tiger79 Graduate]

Yet if you watch the Kenyan long distance runners they run and almost kick their back sides as they do. There was a really good documentary on recent about runners called born to run on bbc four. A good watch

[Stephanie-j Graduate]

Thanks for your replies. It sounds like doing intervals is the way to go. I think I already do a form of "gliding" though I would call mine shuffling! I am waiting for my lung capacity to increase before I tackle hills as I find breathing can still be a bit of a problem at times (no way could I hold a conversation whilst running as I see others do!).

I think redoing the programme the way you suggest, Happierswimming, sounds like a good idea. Will give it a go tomorrow.

Have a nice day, running peeps

[tantrumbean Graduate]

Short fast strides are supposed to be better, I think you are supposed to aim for about 90 strides (i.e. 180 steps a minute), similar to a high cadence when cycling.

[Stephanie-j Graduate in reply to tantrumbean]

Thanks for that, I'll stick to my usual ones and try to go faster doing intervals.