In recent years there has been a lot of discussion about
improving running form. In the past it was believed, and sometimes still is,
that a person has a way that they run as an individual and the way a person runs
cannot be changed. It seems to me that
this is tantamount to saying that humans, possessing the most complex nervous
system on the planet, cannot learn anything new.
So, what is running form anyway? According to the dictionary
it is; the shape, outward appearance, or mode in which a thing acts or exists.
(freedicitonary.com) Running form is
thought of in the ideal. It could then be thought of as “good form”. Often
a person will ask, “Do I have good running form?” There is no doubt that there
is benefit in this. It is good to have a model to study or aspire to. But if
our form were always ideal we would not have to discuss it any further.
So, what is our individual running form anyway? It is the actual shape of our actions. If we
were to take a video of our running and play it back, what we would see is our
actual running form at the time the video was taken. We would see our actual
shape, form and actions in real time.
Humans are characterized by their peculiar upright stance. Unique among all animals they stand, walk and
run from an erect posture. Humans,
therefore, must run on two feet, with a high center of gravity. To move forward they must shift their weight
from one foot to another. In order to
run efficiently or faster one must find the optimal mix of cadence and stride
length. Also proper use ratio of larger
to smaller muscles groups must be realized. Wasted energy must be minimized. We
could go on, but it quickly becomes evident that certain biological constraints
in bipeds necessitate certain commonly applicable principles. With so many
things needing to take place in the efficient walking or running gait,
certainly we must be able to use our ability to learn to improve at least some
of them.
Enter technique.
Technique is a systematic procedure by which a complex task is
accomplished. (freedictionary.com) There
are a number of popular systems and techniques that are purported to teach us
better running form. Some of them can really be quite helpful. Having realized that it is possible to learn
and to improve our movement patterns, and having now obtained a useful
systematic technique, we may begin to develop greater skill, and enjoy the
benefits. Remember how when you were
young you used to ride in the family car while mom or dad drove everyone around
to do the days errands. Then you got
older and eventually you were old enough to take a driver’s ed course at school
Finally you got a license of your own. Now
you could drive yourself where you wanted to go. You had arrived. But it took
time to develop a higher level of skill, and more time to learn how to navigate
on your own and to finally pay for your own car necessitating you to get your
own job, and more and more responsibility for yourself. The process actually never
stops.
Actually a technique only takes you to the first doorway once
you realize that progress is possible. So from the external form we progress to
a technique and finally to our own expression. The final step in developing our
potential as runners is awareness. What
is awareness? Again we turn to the dictionary for ideas. Aware implies knowledge gained through one’s
own perceptions, or by means of information. The information comes from our
environment, both internal and external with all that implies. So now we have
transcended outward form and even systematic techniques to the place where real
learning can take place. It is the place where we have learned to benefit from
our very own perceptions. Our form may change from day to day. It is really not
a static thing. With awareness we become cognizant of our own now. We know our
limitations. We begin to know what we really want and how to get it. We press
on toward our own personal potential. It is really awareness that awards us
with the benefits of being faster, going longer, or staying injury free.
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