Whether it’s for competition or enjoyment, we all like to get out and run. No matter if it’s indoors on the treadmill our outdoors enjoying the beautiful weather, running makes us feel great and improves our overall health.
But did you know that even though you enjoy running, you might be doing it all wrong?
Many people don’t pay attention to their running technique, but there is a proper way to do it in order to minimize the risk of injury:
1. Don’t Be a Heel Striker: You should avoid striking the ground with your heels at all costs. Doing so could lead to back and knee pain.
2. Land on the Midsole of Your Foot: Landing on your forefoot allows your muscles to absorb the weight of your body, which reduces the stress on your bones and joints.
3. Keep Your Stride Short: Taking long strides while running drains your energy quickly. Keep your strides short to expend less energy on your runs. Less motion in your joints lends itself to less wear and tear on your body.
4. Avoid Really Comfortable Shoes: This may seem counterproductive, but wearing shoes with extra support could cause the arches in your feet to fall, making them weaker and making you more prone to injury.
5. Invest in Barefoot Running Shoes: Barefoot running has become all the rage because it can help strengthen your ankles, knees, hips and lower back. But be careful… Make sure you start out slowly with this type of running if you’re a beginner.
6. Don’t Run as Fast as You Can: Running faster doesn’t equal running efficiently. Keep your running at a desired pace and don’t go past that threshold until your body adapts, then you can run faster without pushing harder.
7. Don’t Get Caught Up in Distance: The miles you run don’t really denote progress. You should instead track the amount of time that you run and if so, use a heart rate monitor if possible