Run. Run Properly

Believe it or not, I've been running regularly for over a year now.  Compared to my very inactive lifestyle before, it still astonishes me when I think about it.  Nevertheless, I am still not bored of running, and I don't think I will ever give up running.  There are always new challenges and something for me to focus on improving. 

When I first started running, I had trouble breathing.   I found myself wondering if I should breathe through my nose or my mouth.   I gasped for air.   Now I am focusing on how to ensure that I run properly.  Just because I can run, doesn't mean I am running properly.  It is essential that I run properly to avoid unnecessarily injuring myself.

I noticed that when I ran, I was always "louder" than all the other runners next to me.  I didn't think much about it.  I thought it was because I was "big" and so my weight on the treadmill was the reason for all that noise.  Then one day, as I was running along and being quite proud of myself for having upped my speed and finishing my sets, I noticed the trainer standing behind me.

He stood there quietly behind my treadmill, watching the way I ran.

It was Sunday and the fitness was quite empty except for a few people.  Some lifted weights, worked out on weights or were training their way on the elliptical machine.  I was the only one running on the treadmill.  It was easy to note where all the noise in the fitness was coming from.

After I had fully regained my breath, the trainer walked up to me and told me that there must be something going on with the way I ran.  It was either my shoes or my running.  It was definitely not my shoes, because they were wonderful running shoes.  It wasn't the treadmill breaking down because no one else had any problem running on it.  It must therefore be my "running."

I was running very small steps.  It was more like running by walking. My legs were pounding on the treadmill in order to keep up with the fast pace.  If I was running outside, it wouldn't be so good for my knees.  I decided change and take longer strides.

Common advice is to do the following when you run:
1. Make sure that your head and your neck are properly aligned and focus on the horizon.  Make sure you keep your body straight with a strong core. Don't keep staring at your feet.
2. Relax your shoulders and your arms.  Don't clench your hands and make sure your arms move forward and backward, not sideways.
3. When your feet hits the ground or the treadmill, it should be on the balls of your feet and then roll forward.  The heels don't touch the ground.

I'm not an expert and still learning how to run properly, but I want to make sure that we are all running properly together.  We have to make sure that we don't injure ourselves! :)

Below are some great articles on how to run properly.  Runner's world has lots of tips on running form :D  Happy running!

BBC Health

Runner's World

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