This is part two of the Correct Running Form article, the first article focused on the importance of having correct running form with your upper body, this article will focus on the lower half of your body. Again, it is important to have correct running form to help you prevent injury and to get the most out of your running workout. You want to make sure that you do not cheat yourself in any way.
We have already hit on the form for your head, shoulders, torso, and arms. Now we will focus on your hips, legs, and feet.
We will begin by talking about the hips, have you ever heard the little song, “It’s all in the hips, it’s all in the hips.” Well…it is. Your hips are a key component to a good running posture. The hips are your center of gravity; your hips make sure that your body is properly balanced so you can prevent injury. Your torso and your hips work together as a unit, if your torso is straight your hips will be upright, if your torso is bent forward then your hips will be tilted forward. You want to make sure that your hips are not tilted forward but are in an upright position. If your hips are tilted forward you can put unwanted stress on your lower back.
Now lets talk about the part of the body that actually propels you forward…your legs. Lets face it, you could not run if you had no legs. There is a difference between sprinting and endurance running. If you are sprinting, you will want to lift your knees up higher for maximum power, but we are focusing on endurance running. With endurance it is not necessary to bring your knees up as high as would if you were sprinting, you simply could not keep that pace for a long endurance run. You do not want a long stride, nor do you want a very short stride, but you want to make sure that you feel comfortable in your stride. It is better to be on the shorter side of stride, than the longer side. You will save energy and will protect your knees better.
Last but not least, you will need proper running form in your feet/ankles. You do not want to run flat footed, and you want to make sure that you do not pound your feet on the ground. You want to land right in between your heel and your arch, then roll forward to the ball of your feet. You want to make sure that you you land lightly on your feet and that your ankle is flexed as you roll forward and push off. You definitely want a spring in your step. Make sure that you get a good running shoe that fits your foot properly; this can make all the difference.
So now that you know the proper running form for your whole body, go out and start running with the assurance that you are getting the most out of your running workout.
Related posts:
- Correct Running Form: Upper Body
- Psychological Benefits of Running
- Common Mistakes while Exercising
- 3 Easy Ways To Become A Stronger Runner
- How To Train For A Marathon
- The Army Physical Fitness Test
- Holiday Eating Tips
- Slendertone Ab Belt
- Abdominal Training
- Psychological Benefits of Exercise
- Body By Jake Tower 200
- How To Burn The Most Fat During Your Workout
- What is Plyometric Training?
- The Anatomy of the knee
- Flexibility: Things You Need To Know
I am looking into getting some good running shoes, what should I look for?
That is a great question. You want to make sure that you get the right pair of shoes for your feet. Running shoes are built for all different type of feet, so if you have high arches, you need to get shoes that will support your feet properly. The right shoes will help you not over pronate. I suggest going to a good running shoe store, like Road Runner. They will test your running and your feet to see what type of shoes you need.