๐๐ฎ๐ง๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ
Your running form is not the same as your running gait:
โ
gait is the โwhatโ – the movement sequence like heel-striking or lifting your foot
โ
form is the โhowโ – whether your movements are efficient, stable, and injury-free
By working on your form (how you run), you can improve your running effectiveness.
But itโs not a straightforward thing, and itโs easy to make things worse rather than better.
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐๐๐ง ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ค ๐จ๐ง ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ?
Before starting any form work, consult a sports physiotherapist. They should be able to assess your current form and help you identify whether there are things you should prioritise to reduce injury risk.
A second option is to work with a specialist running coach, someone who has the training and tools to assess your running form and identify things you could do to improve your form.
Both the physio and the running coach will probably suggest activities to add to your training plan โ strength and conditioning, running drills, plyometrics, and other supplemental activities.
๐๐ฌ๐ ๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ
Before starting any supplemental activities, complete a reference run or two.
This will provide baseline RE measurements.
Then, while working on your form, complete additional reference runs to track whether the activities are improving your form (and you should continue them), or whether you should try something different.
RE provides an objective way to assess whether form changes are improvements.
๐บ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐’๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐น๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐๐?
โ Questions?
๐ Getting Started
For more information on how to use Running Effectiveness, see Understanding ‘Running Effectiveness’ and its uses (Palladino)
๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐: ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ
โฉ What is Running Effectiveness?
โฉ Is Running Effectiveness easy to use?
โฉ Running Effectiveness and form improvements
โฉ Running Effectiveness and fatigue resistance
โฉ Running Effectiveness and race planning