chrisschellenberg.com

Ok, ok…. so, it wasn’t the longest run ever, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t the best! My buddy Nino from Pure Fitness has been nagging me about my running form for quite a while now. I kept complaining about annoying shin splints, swollen knees, and even the occasional bursitis in the hips. Here is the post that changed everything – exactly what Nino had been trying to get into my thick skull all along…

Optimal form: A slight forward lean from the ANKLES (not the waist) with the top of your head and torso forming a straight line to your heels, knees slightly bent at all times so that you run 2″ shorter than walking or standing, foot impact on midfoot or balls of the feet NEVER the heel, footstrike directly beneath or slightly behind the body, shoulders/traps down, elbows close to the body, hands loose/limp as posssible, minimize arm swinging, minimize bouncing, use a forward falling momentum to do much of the work for you, PULL your feet off the ground with your hamstrings rather than pushing them (this will avoid needless pounding).

“Chi Running” by Danny Dreyer is an excellent source. On YouTube there is a video called “Running Biomechanics” which isn’t bad either.

And yes, barefoot running and/or minimalist shoes are both excellent ways of conditioning your FEET and calves so that you will have years of injury free running ahead of you. The mainstream podiatrists/orthotics/shoemaking industry does NOT have your best interests in mind…emphasis on INDUSTRY.

So, have a straight back – there should be a straight line from your head to your ankles; you should slightly lean forward at your ankles, not your waist. The key is to bend your knees – and remember, you should be landing with your feet directly beneath you, or slightly behind you (again, bend those knees!). It may take 10-15 minutes to feel like you are running correctly, but I promise – follow this form, and you will have the most amazing run – Ever.

-Chris