Welcome back to another week of Tuesday Tips with Running Rachel (Running Edition).
Last week, I talked about the importance of focusing on proper form while running … before worrying about increasing your speed or distance training.
Each week, I will be focusing on a specific area of our body and the proper form for that area.
This week I will be covering proper form for your head and shoulders.
Head:
When you run try to keep your head steady… limit the bouncing or bobbling of your head. This not only can eliminate neck pain… but you will not be wasting energy with the extra head movement.
Eyes:
I love looking around at all of God’s great creation when I am on my outdoor runs.
I love looking at people who approaching me in the eyes.
When I am on a path where I am just focusing on the road ahead of me, I find that it is best to look at the ground about 10-15 feet ahead of me. This helps me to be aware of any pot holes, rocks, or SNAKES (eek!) that I might need to be aware of.
Please do NOT look at your feet while running… you will find yourself tripping on your own feet as well as you will be working harder than you should.
Shoulders:
When running on flat surfaces (not hills) try to maintain an upright position with your posture.
When running up hills gently lean into that hill with your shoulders and back.
(I will tackle hill running in a later post).
(Women) If you are large chested, you might need to make a conscious effort to bring your shoulders back while running. I find that my shoulders tend to sag/fall inward when I grow tired – causing breathing difficulties, back pain, as well as my body working harder than I should.
Stay tuned next week for tips on proper running form: ARMS!!
Disclaimer: I am not a fitness professional. The opinions on my blog are written and based solely from my personal experience and what works for me.)
Great pointers! I was thinking of my head and neck position as I ran yesterday. Need to make sure my shoulders are up too! Thanks!
Good pointers – it's great to have the reminders every once in a while. I used to look at my feet when I run. Now that I'm pushing a jog stroller, I tend to look out and at the people passing – I love smiling at them as they pass, so they can see that even a tired mom pushing an extra 70lbs can still be having fun! 🙂
Everytime I read these, I find myself nodding my head in total agreement! "yup!" or "uh huh!" or "been there, done that".
Love you!
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Your link to proper form is broken. 🙁
I know what you mean about the head. Don’t hang your head! My running coach would tell me to squeeze my shoulder blades. There is a lot to focus on to get the form right. Hurts my head some times. lol
LOL! Yes, preferrably he will aim for the toilet… instead of his toy basket!
I was telling TheMan this adventure when he got home from work. Upon reflection, it was almost like Peyton KNEW it was wrong, like, “Uh oh! I pooped NOT IN THE TOILET! I need to get rid of the evidence!” and then threw the poop in the toy basket? *shrug* Who knows what he was thinking!
I just pray that it NEVER happens again! 😛