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What is good running technique?

runningtechniquebook.com

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Re: What is good running technique?

#21

Post by rsync »

dominotw wrote: post #2

I 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.

It's ironic that it is IT band syndrome that caused this reaction, since that's by far the easiest running-related "injury" to solve.

There is literally one magic-bullet stretch that will solve it completely - allowing you to go from excruciating "am I destroying my knee?" pain to pain-free in a few days or a week.

Just a note: even if you don't ever return to running, that tightness in your hips and your IT is not getting better - you will need to address that at some point because it will rear its head again. Foam rollers, big rubber bands that you walk sideways in, and sideways leg raises/circles, if you're curious.

Re: What is good running technique?

#22

Post by rsync »

"How should I run" is a question that can only be asked by someone who doesn't run much.

That sounds flip and snarky, so let me frame it in a personal way ...

Years ago, when I started my martial arts training, I naturally asked a teacher about some details / techniques of a certain kick. He said "do that kick 5000 more times and then ask me that". So I did. And I had no questions to ask about it.

That's the beauty of your brain and body interface - you have a built-in mechanism for stripping away extraneous movements and inefficiencies and honing a physical act to the most efficient movement available. It just happens.

So when I hear people talk about fine details of running technique, I say "run 1000 miles and then revisit those questions".

Pro tip: when your body is most tired is when you'll find the movements that are least important. When you are close to exhaustion, you won't have the extra elevation or the extraneous movement or the inefficient motions - you'll find the path of least effort. So in addition to running those 1000 miles, run some of them until you're very tired.

Re: What is good running technique?

#23

Post by jonahx »

rsync wrote: post #22

"How should I run" is a question that can only be asked by someone who doesn't run much. That sounds flip and snarky, so let me frame it in a personal way ... Years ago, when I started my martial arts training, I naturally asked a teacher about some details / techniques of a certain kick. He said "do that kick 5000 more times and then ask me that". So I did. And I had no questions to ask about it. That's the beauty o…

This seems like dangerous advice -- the flip side of this auto-correct-by-experience coin is creating entrenched bad habits. As a common example, take posture: "Just stand up and walk around 5000 times and then ask me what correct posture is." Yet the majority of people have problematic posture, both when standing and when sitting, despite a lifetime of practice.

While there probably are examples where your martial arts teacher's advice makes sense, in my personal experience it seems wrong for most physical movements (walking, weight lifting technique, posture, dancing, etc).

Re: What is good running technique?

#24

Post by jimmaswell »

jonahx wrote: post #23
rsync wrote: post #22

"How should I run" is a question that can only be asked by someone who doesn't run much. That sounds flip and snarky, so let me frame it in a personal way ... Years ago, when I started my martial arts training, I naturally asked a teacher about some details / techniques of a certain kick. He said "do that kick 5000 more times and then ask me that". So I did. And I had no questions to ask about it. That's the beauty o…

This seems like dangerous advice -- the flip side of this auto-correct-by-experience coin is creating entrenched bad habits. As a common example, take posture: "Just stand up and walk around 5000 times and then ask me what correct posture is." Yet the majority of people have problematic posture, both when standing and when sitting, despite a lifetime of practice. While there probably are examples where your martial a…

Very dangerous for musical playing - bad playing movements can lead to carpal tunnel and such

Re: What is good running technique?

#25

Post by bsaul »

rsync wrote: post #21
dominotw wrote: post #2

I 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.

It's ironic that it is IT band syndrome that caused this reaction, since that's by far the easiest running-related "injury" to solve. There is literally one magic-bullet stretch that will solve it completely - allowing you to go from excruciating "am I destroying my knee?" pain to pain-free in a few days or a week. Just a note: even if you don't ever return to running, that tightness in your hips and your IT is not g…

I'm in the exact same situation as parent. Except i skipped to biking. It seems to me that Foam rollers ( or in my case just stretching on a tennis ball) are good for relieving the pain a bit after you've stopped running. But what do you suggest to stop having the pain in the first place ?

Re: What is good running technique?

#26

Post by bsaul »

VeejayRampay wrote: post #18
dominotw wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>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 i…

You don't really see animals running for hours in the wild. They sprint to hunt or survive, then they walk.

Re: What is good running technique?

#27

Post by lightcatcher »

rsync wrote: post #22

"How should I run" is a question that can only be asked by someone who doesn't run much. That sounds flip and snarky, so let me frame it in a personal way ... Years ago, when I started my martial arts training, I naturally asked a teacher about some details / techniques of a certain kick. He said "do that kick 5000 more times and then ask me that". So I did. And I had no questions to ask about it. That's the beauty o…

Middle distance runner here, disagree with most of this. I agree that there's not much point for a beginner runner to worry too much about form. However, simply running a lot does not give most people efficient form (it does prevent them from having horrible form, but doesn't force them to have good form). I have a friend who has been running 60-70 miles/week for a few years, and his form is still quite poor (and this limits his speed for middle distance races).

Also, I don't have a source to reference, but I do not believe your "pro tip" at all. I'm quite sure running efficiency goes down as fatigue increases. Common advice is to focus on your form when you start to fatigue, because this helps you keep efficiency up.

Finally, I doubt any of the "elite" runners referenced in that video have the form they have just by running a lot of miles. Running efficiency is something to think about and to work towards, not to just acquire by running a lot (of course, running a lot helps).

Re: What is good running technique?

#28

Post by zw123456 »

revelation wrote: post #10
zw123456 wrote: post #4

I ran track in College (1976-1978) an my coach back then taught me correct form. I run at least 5 miles almost every day ever since and have never had a running related injury. I attribute this to learning correct running form early on. If you run more than 3 miles and have any pain at all you are probably doing it wrong.

If you run the same mileage every day every week every year well yeah then you are very unlikely to get injured. But that tells us nothing.

I run at least 5 miles, sometimes 6, 7 8 etc. also varying terrain, indoor, outdoor and so on.

Re: What is good running technique?

#29

Post by zw123456 »

shamney wrote: post #6
zw123456 wrote: post #4

I ran track in College (1976-1978) an my coach back then taught me correct form. I run at least 5 miles almost every day ever since and have never had a running related injury. I attribute this to learning correct running form early on. If you run more than 3 miles and have any pain at all you are probably doing it wrong.

what is "correct form"? and where is all the research demonstrating its success at preventing injury?

My case is anecdotal for sure, but I do feel that once I learned the right form it became much easier and I have really enjoyed running because of that I think.

Re: What is good running technique?

#30

Post by zw123456 »

dominotw wrote: post #5
zw123456 wrote: post #4

I ran track in College (1976-1978) an my coach back then taught me correct form. I run at least 5 miles almost every day ever since and have never had a running related injury. I attribute this to learning correct running form early on. If you run more than 3 miles and have any pain at all you are probably doing it wrong.

Where do you run ? Indoors or outdoors?

Both, the gym I belong to has an indoor track which comes in handy but outdoors is more fun of course.
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