Running Tips For Technique
Making a few changes here and there can make a big difference and help you improve to become a more efficient runner. This is key if you want to advance and perform better. Not only will these tips help your technique, but they will also help to prevent injuries as well. Here are 3 top tips we think you can benefit from.
1. Eliminate Over-Striding
If your foot contacts the ground ahead of your hips, your committing this form flaw. As well as wasting energy, over-striding increases the force of impact putting you at risk of shin splints, stress fractures and knee pain.
Over-striding can be a result of a number of factors; tight hip flexors is a common culprit so ensure you stretch them out regularly.
2. It’s All In The Hips
Another common form flaw, which can lead to knee pain, ITB syndrome and other running maladies, is hip drop. This is where one hip drops whilst the other foot is on the ground. This lack of pelvic stability wastes energy and puts you at risk of injury.
The most common cause of hip drop is weak glutes.
To boost those muscles and level up your hips, try performing single leg squats with a focus on keeping the hips level. Form is more important than how many you can do so cut the session short if you start to fatigue..
3. Foot-Strike
You’ve probably heard the hype about forefoot striking, but contrary to popular belief not all top runners do this. Forcing a fore foot strike may actually decrease efficiency in some people.
However, you can encourage a forefoot strike (which does tend to be lower impact) by wearing less shoe and reducing over-striding. Forcing it, however, isn’t good.
Leading running form and injury expert, Peter Larson recommends making peace with your natural style, “The obsession with looking at footstrike and forcing a certain type of footstrike is sort of counter-productive. If you start by changing to shoes with a lower heel or running with a shorter stride length, your footstrike will change, even if you still don’t change from being a heel-striker to a midfoot- or forefoot-striker.”
Do you have any tips you would like to share? Leave us a comment, we would love to hear from you!
Find out how to make running easier:
- Running Drills
- Free 30 Day runner specific Exercise Challenge
- Strength and Mobility Exercises
- Postural and Stability Exercises
- 6 and 12 Week Training Plans
- Step by Step Coaching
- Audio running cues
- Knee rehab program
Source: The Running Bug
