Running Styles-Right/Wrong

craftylatvian

Yesterday I re-started the C25K at the gym. I noticed other runners all have their own style. One girl had really long legs and her strides were long and she looked like a gazelle, fluid movements and very graceful. Another girl was an up-and-down runner and it seemed like she had springs on her shoes with her jumping strides. Me, I am currently a shuffle jogger since I am still in "training". I hope to become a gazelle someday!!!
Is there a right and wrong way to run? Would one style or technique of running be more beneficial or detrimental to your body?
I am not sore at all today (surprising since I have not ran for a month) so my shuffle jogging must be working for me.

Atlantique

Yesterday I re-started the C25K at the gym. I noticed other runners all have their own style. One girl had really long legs and her strides were long and she looked like a gazelle, fluid movements and very graceful. Another girl was an up-and-down runner and it seemed like she had springs on her shoes with her jumping strides. Me, I am currently a shuffle jogger since I am still in "training". I hope to become a gazelle someday!!!
Is there a right and wrong way to run? Would one style or technique of running be more beneficial or detrimental to your body?
I am not sore at all today (surprising since I have not ran for a month) so my shuffle jogging must be working for me.

Shuffling is actually not bad for you--conserves a lot of energy!

Ideally, you want your foot to land directly under your body as this protects your joints the most.

Heel strikers and forefoot strikers both tend to get injured. Tiggers (the bouncy girl you mentioned) just waste a tremendous amount of energy going up and down instead of putting all their energy into going forward. Usually, these are fast runners trying to slow down for some reason but they can't seem to slow their leg turnover and just take much shorter steps.

Try not to clench your fists and to keep your arms going straight back and forth instead of letting your hands cross te midline of your body.

joehempel

Keep your core engaged and stand up straight! I tend to lean forward a bit as I go on because my core isn't as strong as it should be.

Just keep it up and be safe! 2 months ago I was barely doing 1 minute run/ 1 minute walk for 2.5 miles....Monday...did a 10k!

As the weight comes off and you get fitter, you'll find your endurance picking up and your form getting better!

vodkaswigger

Just run whatever way is comfortable for you, doesnt matter what you look like, your doing it and thats all that matters, good on you. I started the C25K 4 months ago and now run miles on a regular basis, keep at it, your own style will develop as you become more comfortable. Well done xx

TavistockToad

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Try not to clench your fists and to keep your arms going straight back and forth instead of letting your hands cross te midline of your body.
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can i ask why? Only I tend to hold my hands in clenched fists....

Bearface115

I started this for the first time on Sunday, what i have been doing is a bobbing movement. I choose a Style that works for you bc if you start out like the gazelle, you can REALLY hurt yourself... treust me... i tried bc i wanted to be that too, but bc i was reaching for a goal that wasnt possible yet, and i eneded up getting discourgaged from running bc i hurt my ankle alittle and i was like, BOO TO RUNNING! now i just did W1W2 yesterday i found that i made it through during the minute run, i was SOO shocked and happy, but its bc i paced myself and i bobbed enough to get away from my before shuffling too! GL! Friend me and we will support eachother!c :-)

chrissym78

bump, interested in reading your responses

Texas_Nana

Keep your hips open and your posture straight. (Bending or hunching over when you get tired only saps more energy from you). Keep you knees under the hips, and your feet under the knees. These are tips I heard on the C25K podcasts.

Atlantique

Try not to clench your fists and to keep your arms going straight back and forth instead of letting your hands cross te midline of your body.
[/quote]

can i ask why? Only I tend to hold my hands in clenched fists....
[/quote]

When you clench your fists, you produce a lot of tension in your arms, shoulders and neck. This may not be bothersome to you in shorter runs, but as you run more often and for longer distances, you'll start to feel pain in your shoulders, neck and upper back. Clenching your fists can also inhibit your natural arm movement, in addition to sapping your energy.

When your hands are moving across your body beyond the midline, you're using a lot of energy that pushes you to the right or left, depending which arm is swinging, and then you need more energy to correct that and keep you going in a straight line. Ideally, you'd like for as much energy as possible to go into propelling you forward, rather than side to side. You'll be able to run more comfortably and for longer if you can get into the habit of not allowing your arms to cross your midline.

JFamilo

This is a great topic! I've always had problems running. When I was younger I always ran on my toes. I was laughed at a lot so last year I started to try running again and tried to retrain how I ran. Now, instead of running on my toes I have more of a cow plodding/slap foot/ very uneven gait sort of thing going. My husband has seen me on occasion and tells me that my form is horrible. I just don't know how to fix it! I don't see myself running I just know nothing feels right. I bounce too much, don't have good form, don't know where my feet are supposed to fall, and probably cross my arms in front of me too much. I'm fairly certain I'm the poster child for how to NOT run.

I've always had horrible stamina. I started couch to 5K awhile ago on the treadmill. It's been very difficult for me. Even after puffing an inhaler I still have very little stamina. I am up to week 4 with 90 second and 180 second runs. I can do it on the treadmill with running around 5.2-5.3mph. While outside I can run about 20-30 seconds (if that!) but when i review my pace on my Nike+ app I am running at 7 1/2 minute mile (like I could actually run a whole mile at that pace). I don't know how to slow down with expending even more energy with bouncing and such... I don't feel like I'm even moving. My husband says I'm maybe just not a runner and never will be- which I find neither supportive or useful. I'm about 30 lbs overweight but surely people bigger than me can run longer than 30 seconds outside! I'm SO discouraged!

Atlantique

Keep your core engaged and stand up straight! I tend to lean forward a bit as I go on because my core isn't as strong as it should be.

Just keep it up and be safe! 2 months ago I was barely doing 1 minute run/ 1 minute walk for 2.5 miles....Monday...did a 10k!

As the weight comes off and you get fitter, you'll find your endurance picking up and your form getting better!

Sometimes people lean too far forward because their hip flexors are very tight. Each time you lift your leg to take a step, you're engaging your hip flexors. Runners can easily get extremely tight, short and strong hip flexors. Sitting also shortens them. When the hip flexors are tight, they pull the top of your pelvis forward and overstress your lower back.

After your run, try adding some hip flexor stretches to your cool down.

joehempel

Keep your core engaged and stand up straight! I tend to lean forward a bit as I go on because my core isn't as strong as it should be.

Just keep it up and be safe! 2 months ago I was barely doing 1 minute run/ 1 minute walk for 2.5 miles....Monday...did a 10k!

As the weight comes off and you get fitter, you'll find your endurance picking up and your form getting better!

Sometimes people lean too far forward because their hip flexors are very tight. Each time you lift your leg to take a step, you're engaging your hip flexors. Runners can easily get extremely tight, short and strong hip flexors. Sitting also shortens them. When the hip flexors are tight, they pull the top of your pelvis forward and overstress your lower back.

After your run, try adding some hip flexor stretches to your cool down.

Thanks for the tip, I'll give it a shot if I ever do a cool down LOL, that's my biggest problem...I don't cool down properly.

Atlantique

Keep your core engaged and stand up straight! I tend to lean forward a bit as I go on because my core isn't as strong as it should be.

Just keep it up and be safe! 2 months ago I was barely doing 1 minute run/ 1 minute walk for 2.5 miles....Monday...did a 10k!

As the weight comes off and you get fitter, you'll find your endurance picking up and your form getting better!

Sometimes people lean too far forward because their hip flexors are very tight. Each time you lift your leg to take a step, you're engaging your hip flexors. Runners can easily get extremely tight, short and strong hip flexors. Sitting also shortens them. When the hip flexors are tight, they pull the top of your pelvis forward and overstress your lower back.

After your run, try adding some hip flexor stretches to your cool down.

Thanks for the tip, I'll give it a shot if I ever do a cool down LOL, that's my biggest problem...I don't cool down properly.

I end up doing a lot of stretching in the evenings while watching TV. Only problem with it is that the dog thinks I want to play with her every time I get onto the floor.