Most people may not think there is much to running form. It's just running, right?
Sort of.
Not really.
When you're running 50+ miles a week, it makes a difference if you're stepping in a way that will irritate your body.
Somehow we begin to forget how we were meant to run until a part of our body finally says, "That's enough. You're not doing that right."
Up until last year, I would keep running until I felt some pain. That was my clue it was time for new shoes. Then last fall after the marathon my right knee started hurting. I went and got new shoes (it was way past the mileage recommendation). It didn't help. Then I didn't know what to do. It'd never happened to me before.
I started icing my knee after runs.
I started trying to cut back on running and give my knee a break.
I didn't know what to do.
Somehow I realized it could be the way I was running! I started trying to alter my form and oh man, what a difference.
It wasn't easy. I like to zone out during my runs and changing something like your form basically makes you pay attention the whole time. Or as soon as I feel pain that will pull me out of my reverie. Then I get back to focusing on my form and things start going smoothly again.
What is the correct running form you ask.
From what I've heard around...
*try to land on the balls of your feet, not your heels
*you should run like you're leaning forward from the hips, I feel like there's a perception to run straight up, not necessarily
*short, quick strides
There's a tiny list. And I should say this after every post, but all this depends on you. Some people have always been heel strikers (land on the heel) and never had any issues. Other's become badly injured from this habit. Everyone is different. I can't repeat that enough. Especially when it comes to running.
Sort of.
Not really.
When you're running 50+ miles a week, it makes a difference if you're stepping in a way that will irritate your body.
Somehow we begin to forget how we were meant to run until a part of our body finally says, "That's enough. You're not doing that right."
Up until last year, I would keep running until I felt some pain. That was my clue it was time for new shoes. Then last fall after the marathon my right knee started hurting. I went and got new shoes (it was way past the mileage recommendation). It didn't help. Then I didn't know what to do. It'd never happened to me before.
I started icing my knee after runs.
I started trying to cut back on running and give my knee a break.
I didn't know what to do.
Somehow I realized it could be the way I was running! I started trying to alter my form and oh man, what a difference.
It wasn't easy. I like to zone out during my runs and changing something like your form basically makes you pay attention the whole time. Or as soon as I feel pain that will pull me out of my reverie. Then I get back to focusing on my form and things start going smoothly again.
What is the correct running form you ask.
From what I've heard around...
*try to land on the balls of your feet, not your heels
*you should run like you're leaning forward from the hips, I feel like there's a perception to run straight up, not necessarily
*short, quick strides
There's a tiny list. And I should say this after every post, but all this depends on you. Some people have always been heel strikers (land on the heel) and never had any issues. Other's become badly injured from this habit. Everyone is different. I can't repeat that enough. Especially when it comes to running.
Comments
Post a Comment