Introduction
You learned to run when you were a toddler. You’ve been doing it ever since. When it comes to becoming a serious runner, however, it pays to pause and check that the way that you run is the right way for you. Running is a skill and learning the proper technique will allow you to do it more efficiently. That means that you’ll be exerting less energy when you run, making the whole process easier. Learning to run properly will also lower the risk of strain and injury.*
The Basics of Running
Good runners run tall, that is they are in an upright rather than a stooped position when they run. They have a slight forward lean. Their arms are bent at 90 degrees and pump naturally as they run.
We can consider running as a cycle of actions. It has two main phases; floating and stance. Floating occurs when both feet are off the ground. The stance phase can be further divided into toe off, swing, strike, and support phases. Let’s consider these phases one at a time:
Toe Off
To initiate movement, the knee of the leading leg drives forward, while the trailing foot leaves the ground. The power of this movement comes from the Achilles tendon and calf muscle. During this phase, new runners have a tendency to lean too far forward. This has a negative effect on their stride angle. By leaning from the ankle, rather than the hip, you will enable a wider stride angle when driving the knee at toe off.
Swing
This is the longest phase of the running motion. Your legs are moving forward through the air, swinging through in preparation for the next foot strike. The hip flexors pull the trailing leg through and the hamstrings slow the leading leg in anticipation of it striking the ground. Be sure to allow your trailing leg to cycle through naturally and that the arms are bent at right angles and rotating from the shoulders. This arm movement will help to set your running pace.
Strike
As it strikes the ground, the body absorbs several times its own weight. For proper absorption, the front foot should be slightly in front of the body. The landing foot should also be quite flat as it comes down.
There is much debate over what constitutes the ideal foot strike. Some runners prefer a mid-foot strike on the ball of the foot and heel simultaneously. This transmits the impact force evenly up the leg. Others go with a heel strike, landing first with the outside of the heel, then rolling inward to load the arch. A forefoot strike is typically used by speedrunners, with the landing taking place on the ball of the foot, on the outside edge. Whichever strike you go with, be sure to avoid a heavy landing.
Support
This is the mid-stance, just after a strike. The leading leg is directly under the hips. The body is traveling forward, over the leg in preparation for the next toe off. The leading foot arch flattens against the ground, as it stores energy in readiness for the next cycle to begin.
Running Technique Summary
- Run in an upright position with the angle originating from the ankle, not the hips
- Keep your head up
- Keep your core tight and your shoulders down
- Your mid foot should contact the ground first (the neutral strike)
- Your arms should be moving freely at your sides
*Fitness Disclaimer
This website offers health, fitness and nutritional information and is designed for educational purposes only. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional medical advice, diagnosis treatment. This website does not promise any specific results, as each individual responds differently to training. The author of this article is not a medical professional. We have volunteers in our organization from different aspects of health, nutrition, and fitness. Not just modern medicine doctors and physicians, but yoga teachers, spiritual teachers, martial arts teachers, and energy healers and we use all those resources to be able to provide the best and most proper advice to people around all walks of life. We do not have a defined goal, we only have a mission to help as many people as we can.