Often we get the question from athletes, ‘what can I do to improve my running form?’
In most cases, we don’t want to tinker too much with your natural running form. Go watch the runners at an elite race such as the Olympic trials, and even at this level you will see a wide variety of body times and running form. Our bodies tend to find the biomechanics which work well and we don’t want to become too preoccupied with altering what feels natural.
However, there is one piece of general advice that you might think about while running.
Run tall!
Think about your posture. Your coaches (and your parents) want you to stand up straight! Feel like there is a string at the top of your head, pulling your skull gently upwards. Avoid slouching your shoulders forward, your shoulders should be relaxed but pulled back (think about ‘putting your shoulder blades in your back pockets’). You should have a very slight forward lean as you run, with your whole upper torso straight and bending slightly forward from your waist like a single lever.
Your body should be relaxed…but taller!
Running (and standing) upright like this will help open your chest and help your breathing. Your shoulders should feel good, not tired (watch other runners who are constantly dropping their hands and shaking out their arms, usually this comes from holding their shoulders too tight). Running tall will help your foot strike fall naturally under your center of gravity, not over-striding. And…good posture will help you find your real height (maybe you are an inch taller than you thought!).
Run relaxed, tall…and happy! You will feel great!
