Is an elliptical a good alternative to running?
What is good running technique?
11–20 of 57 posts
Re: What is good running technique?
#12I recently developed 'IT band Syndrome' which made me say goodbye to boring/injury prone running and switch to swimming. Best decision ever. Fuck running. I don't know of single runner who hasn't suffered some kind of injury. Again fuck running.
Every sport in the world is a direct source of injuries if you combine too important a workload and bad form. Your injuries have nothing to do with running itself, an activity that has been central to the human species' way of life for millions of years and that the human body is naturally designed for.
Re: What is good running technique?
#13For anyone interested in "good form running", what it means for the human body and the benefits that are associated with it, I wholeheartedly suggest reading up on Daniel Lieberman (he has videos on YouTube about it). His studies about foot strike and gait especially are mind-opening and can really help you achieve good result and avoid some of the running-related injuries.
Re: What is good running technique?
#14I recently developed 'IT band Syndrome' which made me say goodbye to boring/injury prone running and switch to swimming. Best decision ever. Fuck running. I don't know of single runner who hasn't suffered some kind of injury. Again fuck running.
Every sport in the world is a direct source of injuries if you combine too important a workload and bad form. Your injuries have nothing to do with running itself, an activity that has been central to the human species' way of life for millions of years and that the human body is naturally designed for.
>way of life for millions of years and that the human body is naturally designed for.
yea we don't live that way of life anymore. We are talking about running for fitness after sitting in front of a computer for the rest of the day.
If it is so natural why do we need to read books and blogs about form? Are you suggesting that prehistoric people went through "running form bootcamps" before making it their "way of life" ?
Re: What is good running technique?
#15So, the best tip I've heard, and what I tell patients who want to minimize who want to minimize injuries, is to pretend like you're running on ice or glass. Try and focus on absorbing the impact of each step and try to distribute your weight evenly so as not to 'break the glass'. I think I first heard it through a TED talk or something, I'll see if I can't dig it up.
Re: What is good running technique?
#16Is an elliptical a good alternative to running?
It depends on your goals, and what level of fitness you have today.
It is easier on your joints, and people with limited fitness levels or physical capacities can often push themselves harder on an elliptical than they could walking or running. I was able to work on an elliptical even when I had a hip that was in such bad shape that it needed rebuilt, and started back on an elliptical after my surgery.
On the other hand, the exact things that make it good for some people makes them less suitable for people who are already athletic. They are easier on you, will not push your heart rate as high, and take less muscular strength. If you are really trying to reach your peak athletic performance, elliptical training might not be enough for you.
Re: What is good running technique?
#17I recently developed 'IT band Syndrome' which made me say goodbye to boring/injury prone running and switch to swimming. Best decision ever. Fuck running. I don't know of single runner who hasn't suffered some kind of injury. Again fuck running.
I spent years running in my late teens and early 20s and had no running-related lasting injuries - and I have flat feet.
While swimming is lower stress on the musculature and does a more full-body workout, I know several folks who simply got sick and couldn't continue daily regimens. Once they got better it difficult for them to continue. Surely proper preparation (swim caps/goggles) could have helped.
Basketball is crazy fun but potential for injury is much higher - I stopped due to injuries.
tl;dr - all activities require proper preparation.
Re: What is good running technique?
#18Earlier quoted context omitted.
Every sport in the world is a direct source of injuries if you combine too important a workload and bad form. Your injuries have nothing to do with running itself, an activity that has been central to the human species' way of life for millions of years and that the human body is naturally designed for.
>way of life for millions of years and that the human body is naturally designed for. yea we don't live that way of life anymore. We are talking about running for fitness after sitting in front of a computer for the rest of the day. If it is so natural why do we need to read books and blogs about form? Are you suggesting that prehistoric people went through "running form bootcamps" before making it their "way of life…
What I meant is that the human species is naturally gifted for endurance running. We're not naturally gifted for underwater activities, we're not really designed for flying, but running at a moderate speed for long periods of time is something that we're naturally good at (and specific parts of our bodies are specifically designed in a way that helps with that activity).
The reason why we need to read books and get interested in the theory is especially because we're culturally evolved in a way that doesn't require for us to run around all day long. The skills associated with running are now almost obsolete when they were absolutely crucial back in the days of hunting and foraging for food. As a result, we've kind of lost touch with the minute details of what makes for efficient running, just like I'm not sure a lot of people would know how to make a fire in the wild anymore, those activities are a bonus now, not a necessity.
Re: What is good running technique?
#19I recently developed 'IT band Syndrome' which made me say goodbye to boring/injury prone running and switch to swimming. Best decision ever. Fuck running. I don't know of single runner who hasn't suffered some kind of injury. Again fuck running.
If you don't like to run, then just don't do it. No one is asking you for a justification, so don't feel obligated to offer one.
That said, after forty years of competitive running at various levels, I can recall one debilitating injury, a stress fracture. Yeah, let's blame that on running and not being a dumbass sophomore in high school who thought 95 miles/week was a ticket to success.
But do what suits you as long as it gets you off yor ass.
Re: What is good running technique?
#20I recently developed 'IT band Syndrome' which made me say goodbye to boring/injury prone running and switch to swimming. Best decision ever. Fuck running. I don't know of single runner who hasn't suffered some kind of injury. Again fuck running.
While you'll develop better muscles and endurance by switching to swimming, you will not get the helpful stress on your bones without some form of other exercise like biking.