Arms

likitisplit

I'm surprised to find how much difference your arms make when you run. I usually hold them bent at about 90 degrees (waist level) but when I was running fast, up hill and around a corner yesterday, I dropped them so my hands were at about hip height. The difference was a sense of balance and sheer power. It engaged my hips in a whole new way so I felt really stable and was able to put a lot more push into my stride without a lot more effort. I felt like I could run uphill forever.

KathleenKP

I will have to try that out.

timeasterday

Yep, I use my arms a lot. Especially on trails where I pump my arms harder on the uphill sections and keep them down low for balance on the downhill sections. When I am running the road I use my arms to help speed up my cadence. If my arms start moving faster my legs just naturally follow along without thinking about it.

likitisplit

When I am running the road I use my arms to help speed up my cadence. If my arms start moving faster my legs just naturally follow along without thinking about it.

I have done that before:
"Oh, my legs are SOOOO tired."
"Well, my arms aren't. I'll just focus on moving them."
And then your legs just naturally follow along, but it doesn't feel as hard as pushing your poor tired legs another step, especially another step at 160 spm.

KathleenKP

I felt like I could run uphill forever.

So I worked this a little today. However, I did NOT feel like I could run uphill forever. LOL.

(it might be all,the gunk caught in my lungs, though.)

I found I had to think about pushing with my arms, not just swinging them lower. I'll keep working at it.

likitisplit

I might have been hitting my runner's high at the same time that I started using my arms.

I think it's the back swing where the power comes from.