Subject: RE: Improving Run Performance mrcurtain - 2009-08-27 4:49 PM Has no one else written about running FORM?
If you're striking hard on your heel, you'll always be slow. The first step before you start adding more miles, or adding in speed work is to make sure that your running form is correct.
Here's a decent video about it:
http://video.about.com/running/Proper-Running-Form.htm
Galloway's book on running also has a good section about running form. Actually, running form has been quite intensely studied in the past. (See Lore of Running by Noakes for a good review. ) Turns out that humans naturally gravitate toward their most efficient running form with training. There have been very limited speed increases, if any, due to running form per se. It's true that sprinters (<800m ) do high knee drills etc. to further refine spriint technique, but for distance runners 5k+, those are near bottom priority in terms of training. Heel striking versus forefoot striking is an oft debated subject with virtually no data that shows a convincing difference. Also, some people have strange-looking running forms that actually works very well for their biomechanics. I know a collegiate womens x-country runner who had a huge side flail to her stride that looked hideous, but her results were excellent. (low 17s 5k. ) This is obviously completely different from swimming, in which you have to learn from the ground up how to move efficiently and effectively. little by little. Scientists postulate with convincing evidence that our brains are hardwired to run efficiently innately; in other words, it's "preprogrammed" for us. (The spinal cord reflexes are sufficient to run/walk even in complete absence of cortical stimulus. That doesn't happen with swimming motions. ) |