Running Techniques
Techniques are what allows us to maximize and utilize our body to be able to use our full potential. For now, I've written a few running techniques that are important when running your best. Later, I'll put up a video that will help as a visual.
The BodyThe head needs to be up straight in order to help the body focus on the path ahead. When you raise your head up, you allow oxygen to easily flow through your body.
Your body ought to be loose and smooth when running, nothing too tight, ensuring that you conserve energy and use it properly. Chest should be 'facing' forward. Arms must be bent at a 90 degree angle, swinging back and forth but never passing through the center of the body. As your arms move forwards and backwards, your upper body ought to slightly twist in a smooth way to ensure maximum efficiency. When landing on your feet, make it look like your heel is going to hit first, but in reality, have the weight fall on the balls of your feet, pushing off so that you won't brake and use your energy efficiently. This way, your joints won't have a jarring impact. High cadence will help with correcting your form. Make sure that when you land, your feet aren't way in front of your body, but instead, continually pushing your body forward. |
BreathingBreathing is important because it controls the body. In being able to control your breathing, you will be able to be in control over your body's performance.
When you force your breathing to slow down, it forces your body to maximize its efficiency with a lower amount of oxygen going inside, which makes the heart pump stronger and slower. A slower heartbeat means that the amount of exerted energy is less, which means that you've begin to control your body. What I personally like to do to control my breathing is breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth. Let every step become a beat. For three beats, I breath in, and for two beats, I breath out. This makes the slight strain even out between your two sides so that you wouldn't have to worry about having cramps. After I get in control with 3 in 2 out, I go to 4 in 3 out and continue that trend as far as I could. It becomes a little bit like a game to see how high I could go. |
The MindAlthough it's very important to control the body, it's even more important to control the mind. Positive thinking gives you strength. Believing in yourself allows you to improve. The mind allows you to grow and gives you the push you need to constantly improve.
If you think something is possible and believe it to be possible, then you are more likely able to achieve that. Believe in yourself and work on strengthening your mind to push you beyond what you thought were limits. Using your mind, the limits you may have conceived can be broken, and you can realize that you don't really know where your limit is and can actually see how much you can push. Remember that the mind is also like the body. It needs its rest time, but at the same time, it needs training. The ability to push yourself even though it hurts is very important in training and running races. |