A little more on running....

I was intrigued by my own running technique this morning and I decided to post a little more about running and form.... I experimented with heel striking and then forefoot landing and it actually felt different.  A forefoot landing made me feel lighter on my feet, but ultimately I preferred heel striking.  I felt more powerful and it energized me.

I love this article on common running form mistakes.  Brandon Laan posts some great information that we can use as a follow-up to yesterday.  I adored a few key take-aways:

• Good form is a matter of not being lazy!!! This I tell to my students ALL THE TIME! Form is so important and you can actually work more efficiently to target specific muscles and get more out of your efforts (in running, and while lifting weights or doing other activities) --- "proper and efficient biomechanics during your entire gait cycle"  (POSTURE, ALIGNMENT, PELVIC STABILITY, HIP STRENGTH) 
• Listen to your feet hit the pavement to measure your strikes -- increase turnover by counting how many strikes in 15 seconds and multiply by 4 to see strikes per minute -- and try for more!
• Maintain a forward lean and keep elbows bent at 90 degrees (to avoid using unneeded energy in the arms!) 
• Active-isolated stretching to avoid injury while running and increase range of motion (hamstrings, quads)
• MY FAVORITE DRILL:
• Perform the “Hands on Head” drill. Start by interlocking your hands on your head. Focus on keeping your core solid and straight while keeping the hips and shoulders level and relaxed. Start jogging. This drill will help you to eliminate any left to right movement through the hips and help eliminate a criss-crossing, side-to-side arm carriage. 
• Keep body relaxed -- at mile markers (or another landmark you can set) raise your shoulders up to your ears and then drop back down into a relaxed position -- maintain that relaxation throughout 

HAPPY RUNNING!!!