4 key elements of good running form + amazing races in Joshua Tree, Haiti, Key West, Colorado's Royal Gorge, Oregon's Pacific Crest Trail and the Appalachian Trail
My running stride changed dramatically after I was hit by car in the U.S. Open Triathlon in Dallas in 2009.
My left femur was broken off at the ball joint. After 6 month on crutches, 6 month to learn to walk without a limb and then 6 months of rehab just to get ready to 'try' to run ... I attempted running in a racketball court from one end to the other ... I didn't make it.
I got about one and a half strides before I had to stop. Not sure why I did it but I then tried to see if I could run backwards? ... and surprisingly I could (not very far, but clearly much better than my 1st attempt.
The next revelation came when I walked to a track at TCU in Fort Worth and then tried to run around the track ... again, I didn't get much farther than a few strides before I had to quit.
NOTE: My running stride has always been longer strides, heel strike with cushioned motion control shoes and now this simply was not working for me.
So again I tried something different just to see what would happen. I took my shoes off and ran barefoot (actually in socks that day). It was ugly, but I made it all the way around the track.
I moved quickly to a barefoot running style, which forces your body to increase turnover, shorten your stride and land with your weight above your foot. This allowed my foot, ankle, knee and hip to absorb the pounding by spreading hit around, rather than hitting the ground with an extended leg that send the shock straight to my injured femur.
My rehab went from barefoot, to five-fingers, to light weight zero-drop running shoes ...and today, Newton's Light Distance S10. I race competitively again in my age group.
I definitely notice, out and about in my city, a lot of runners who look like they took up the sport as adults and never benefited from biomechanics and form coaching in school cross-country or such. (adults can of course hire a personal trainer/coach/PT, but most don't) Plenty may be going faster than me, but they're working twice as hard as they need to be, with little T-rex arms all tightened up, hands at their chest instead of near their hips, crossing over / lateral movement, basically fighting against their own forward motion. I always think, 'run smarter, not harder...' and of course foot/leg/hip alignment and striking is another big one. People need coaching! the lessons on form I learned back in the day definitely stuck with me and make my runs better, smoother, more enjoyable and help stave off injury.
Thanks. I had plantar fascitis in both feet so bad I could barely walk before I learned that it was from running. I'm kinda big for a runner at 215 and in my 50's. To avoid surgery, I read and learned about the higher cadence and how it relates to running barefoot. Now, I've helped people just by telling them to practice running barefoot on grass, then copy that form and cadence when they strap on their running shoes. I've gotten many thanks from that simple learning technique.
This is SO timely for me Terrell! I started feeling plantar fasciitis issues in my left heel in February. I ignored it & kept running. By March I was in serious pain & took a break from running. I asked my running coach for help & she was awesome, but I knew I needed more.
I have been going to my PT for several weeks now & doing what he gave me to do. Each day it is feeling better. He also videotaped me running & gave me some pointers on my form. (I land on my heels mostly.)
I had never really cared about my form & thought I should just run how it feels natural. I wish I could run with the Kenyans! Imagine what we could learn.
Cadence was explained to me as the most important factor in good form. I don't pay much mind to my form and I know I should. I have fun running now and I am in the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" camp. Thank you and enjoy the time with your son.
These are similar to some elements I read about in article I was reading about to help improve output and speed. In addition it mentioned running on grass barefoot to feel how you are landing and adjust accordingly.
My running stride changed dramatically after I was hit by car in the U.S. Open Triathlon in Dallas in 2009.
My left femur was broken off at the ball joint. After 6 month on crutches, 6 month to learn to walk without a limb and then 6 months of rehab just to get ready to 'try' to run ... I attempted running in a racketball court from one end to the other ... I didn't make it.
I got about one and a half strides before I had to stop. Not sure why I did it but I then tried to see if I could run backwards? ... and surprisingly I could (not very far, but clearly much better than my 1st attempt.
The next revelation came when I walked to a track at TCU in Fort Worth and then tried to run around the track ... again, I didn't get much farther than a few strides before I had to quit.
NOTE: My running stride has always been longer strides, heel strike with cushioned motion control shoes and now this simply was not working for me.
So again I tried something different just to see what would happen. I took my shoes off and ran barefoot (actually in socks that day). It was ugly, but I made it all the way around the track.
I moved quickly to a barefoot running style, which forces your body to increase turnover, shorten your stride and land with your weight above your foot. This allowed my foot, ankle, knee and hip to absorb the pounding by spreading hit around, rather than hitting the ground with an extended leg that send the shock straight to my injured femur.
My rehab went from barefoot, to five-fingers, to light weight zero-drop running shoes ...and today, Newton's Light Distance S10. I race competitively again in my age group.
It's great to be back running.
I definitely notice, out and about in my city, a lot of runners who look like they took up the sport as adults and never benefited from biomechanics and form coaching in school cross-country or such. (adults can of course hire a personal trainer/coach/PT, but most don't) Plenty may be going faster than me, but they're working twice as hard as they need to be, with little T-rex arms all tightened up, hands at their chest instead of near their hips, crossing over / lateral movement, basically fighting against their own forward motion. I always think, 'run smarter, not harder...' and of course foot/leg/hip alignment and striking is another big one. People need coaching! the lessons on form I learned back in the day definitely stuck with me and make my runs better, smoother, more enjoyable and help stave off injury.
Thanks. I had plantar fascitis in both feet so bad I could barely walk before I learned that it was from running. I'm kinda big for a runner at 215 and in my 50's. To avoid surgery, I read and learned about the higher cadence and how it relates to running barefoot. Now, I've helped people just by telling them to practice running barefoot on grass, then copy that form and cadence when they strap on their running shoes. I've gotten many thanks from that simple learning technique.
This is SO timely for me Terrell! I started feeling plantar fasciitis issues in my left heel in February. I ignored it & kept running. By March I was in serious pain & took a break from running. I asked my running coach for help & she was awesome, but I knew I needed more.
I have been going to my PT for several weeks now & doing what he gave me to do. Each day it is feeling better. He also videotaped me running & gave me some pointers on my form. (I land on my heels mostly.)
I had never really cared about my form & thought I should just run how it feels natural. I wish I could run with the Kenyans! Imagine what we could learn.
Cadence was explained to me as the most important factor in good form. I don't pay much mind to my form and I know I should. I have fun running now and I am in the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" camp. Thank you and enjoy the time with your son.
Interesting!! I'm going to try this and report back. It's true though, Kenyan's run in unison and look like a fleet.
These are similar to some elements I read about in article I was reading about to help improve output and speed. In addition it mentioned running on grass barefoot to feel how you are landing and adjust accordingly.