Am I running properly?

vienna_h
vienna_h Posts: 428 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I know this is weird, but I don't know if I'm running properly. I have two different styles of running:

My normal instinctive "running style" is very bouncy and light on my feet, very short strides, I don't cover a lot of distance

My other "running style" is less bouncy and has longer strides, but feels like it's more work on my leg muscles, it kinda burns my thighs

Which style of running is better?

Replies

  • DancingMoosie
    DancingMoosie Posts: 8,619 Member
    You could have your gait analyzed at a running store...
    Unless you are running for races, or having injuries or pain, I would just do what comes naturally and feels "right."
  • mcgeorge5
    mcgeorge5 Posts: 92 Member
    I would like to know the answer to this too. I am considering starting to jog. I can jog in place forever, but I am scared to run outdoors. And I'm short and feel like that is a disadvantage too.
  • vienna_h
    vienna_h Posts: 428 Member
    You could have your gait analyzed at a running store...
    Unless you are running for races, or having injuries or pain, I would just do what comes naturally and feels "right."

    I ran at the running store when I was fitted for my running shoes. I think I was using the first "bouncy" running style. All they said was that I was a neutral runner, have very narrow feet!

    I guess the bouncy jog feels more natural, but it also feels like I'm wasting energy being bouncy instead up pushing myself further and faster...
  • ptak1sm
    ptak1sm Posts: 172
    Proper running shoes are key. Get a gait analysis; any store that specializes in running/walking should be able to do this properly. Avoid Sports Authority, Dunhams, etc. They won't know what they're doing.

    Now that that's out of the way, there isn't necessarily a "proper" way to run as our bodies are built differently. I used to run with a longer stride, heel-ball-toe, and found myself tiring out and getting shin splints all the time. A few months ago, I switched to a shorter, quicker stride, which results in more strides per minute but I'm able to cover more distance than I was able to with longer strides, and my body doesn't tire as quickly. Also, no shin splints.

    Do some research, talk to other runners, and experiment over short distances to find what works for you.

    Jeff Galloway is a well-known, highly reputable distance runner who champions interval training. Here's a link to the training section on his website; the rest of his page is worth a look, too. Good luck!
    http://www.jeffgalloway.com/training/walk_breaks.html

    Edit: Did the folks at your running shop clarify what they meant by "neutral runner"? They should explain it to you and what it means in terms of your training.
    Also, height has nothing to do with running! My attitude is this: I am my only competition. Did I feel good about my run? Am I seeing improvement over my previous runs? Half of running for me was conquering that fear of running outside, in front of people. We all go through it. The hardest part is getting started!
  • vienna_h
    vienna_h Posts: 428 Member
    I would like to know the answer to this too. I am considering starting to jog. I can jog in place forever, but I am scared to run outdoors. And I'm short and feel like that is a disadvantage too.

    I was pretty scared to run outdoors at first too, but I just forced myself too and got over it. Well mostly, I also have short legs and the other day I was jogging behind thisreally tall skinny guy who was WALKING as fast as I was jogging.:frown: I had to just sprint ahead of him, it was embarrassing lol!
  • vienna_h
    vienna_h Posts: 428 Member
    Proper running shoes are key. Get a gait analysis; any store that specializes in running/walking should be able to do this properly. Avoid Sports Authority, Dunhams, etc. They won't know what they're doing.

    Now that that's out of the way, there isn't necessarily a "proper" way to run as our bodies are built differently. I used to run with a longer stride, heel-ball-toe, and found myself tiring out and getting shin splints all the time. A few months ago, I switched to a shorter, quicker stride, which results in more strides per minute but I'm able to cover more distance than I was able to with longer strides, and my body doesn't tire as quickly. Also, no shin splints.

    Do some research, talk to other runners, and experiment over short distances to find what works for you.

    Jeff Galloway is a well-known, highly reputable distance runner who champions interval training. Here's a link to the training section on his website; the rest of his page is worth a look, too. Good luck!
    http://www.jeffgalloway.com/training/walk_breaks.html

    Thanks for the advice! I originally went to footlocker, they didn't have a clue about anything, so i went to the best running store in my city and got someone to carefully look at my feet and running to find the right shoes. But now that I'm getting into running, I'm trying to figure out the best way to run. I'll check out the link, thanks :)
  • coolraul07
    coolraul07 Posts: 1,606 Member
    I'm an absolute newb when it comes to running for fitness, but I will share this tidbit. I started C25K earlier this year. The first week was relatively easy at 6mph/3mph but week 2 was HELL! I 'YouTube'd' some videos and made some changes that led to a night-n-day difference: mid-stride instead of heel-ball-toe, shorter stride, don't let arms cross body, etc. I'm not jogging/running right now because my focus is elsewhere, but I'm confident that these changes will allow me to get through C25K without repeat problems!
  • ptak1sm
    ptak1sm Posts: 172
    I'm an absolute newb when it comes to running for fitness, but I will share this tidbit. I started C25K earlier this year. The first week was relatively easy at 6mph/3mph but week 2 was HELL! I 'YouTube'd' some videos and made some changes that led to a night-n-day difference: mid-stride instead of heel-ball-toe, shorter stride, don't let arms cross body, etc. I'm not jogging/running right now because my focus is elsewhere, but I'm confident that these changes will allow me to get through C25K without repeat problems!

    Yes, this too! Heel-ball-toe works great for me, my dad (who wears Vibram Five Fingers and loves them) runs ball-toe-heel. Your arms play such an important role in your running, too...you don't want them too tight, but you don't want to flop them at your sides, either. Relax your fists, don't clench. Forward and back, let them work for you. I'm still relatively new to running but I've found a great group of people in my area who have been invaluable in terms of information and encouragement.
  • alikonda
    alikonda Posts: 2,358 Member
    As a shortie runner: being short does not have to be a disadvantage. Yes, our strides may be shorter, but our turnover is quicker since we don't have as much leg to move! :wink: I was the shortest member of my cross-country running team in high school (and one of the fastest) and I routinely got passed by girls who were way shorter than even me!

    It's hard to describe in text - having your gait analyzed by a professional is definitely preferable - BUT:
    You want to be striking the ground with your foot right underneath you, not out in front of your body, as that places extra stresses on your shins/knees. Try to have your foot land flat - not landing on heel OR the ball of your foot. I'm not sure what you mean by "bouncy" but that might be an indication that you are running on your toes (I have that tendency...).

    Relax your shoulders and don't clench your fists. (I used to run with dead tennis balls in my hands to keep from clenching!) Bend your arms at a comfortable angle, close to 90 degrees. Your forearms should be perpendicular to the plane of your body.

    Avoid dinosaur arms: move them. Focus on swinging your arms in a straight forward-back pattern, NOT at an angle across your body. Think about it this way - if you are swinging your arms straight forward, you are creating more momentum in the direction of movement; you can use that momentum to bring your leg forward and propel yourself through space. It sounds weird, but it REALLY works --- oftentimes if I am running out of steam on a run, I find that it gets MUCH easier if I simply focus on correcting my arm movements. :smile:

    Good luck! :flowerforyou:
  • vienna_h
    vienna_h Posts: 428 Member
    thanks for the advice so far :D
  • JustJennie1
    JustJennie1 Posts: 3,749 Member
    Honestly there is no right or wrong way to run. Whatever style feels comfortable to you is the way you should run.

    I'm a mid foot/ball of the foot striker when I run and sometimes I'm a little flat footed when I run. The mid-foot/ball of foot is how I run when I'm running fast. Flat footed is when I'm running slower. It's just how I run. I've heard that you "should" do heel-to-toe running but I can't. It's uncomfortable and it hurts.

    Do what feels good and comfortable for you.

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