Back in 2009-2010, as the barefoot running movement picked up steam, I was excited. I thought I was going to see a world full of healthier, happier runners with better running form. But that’s not what happened. The reasons it should have happened are still solid: running without cushioned soles causes runners to reorganize their … Read more
The Tokyo Olympics Women’s Marathon was exciting for more than one reason. From a running form perspective it was a treat to have the top three women–Peres Jepchirchir, Brigid Kosgei, and Molly Seidel–all running with such different form. Take a look at this brief highlights video to see what I mean or find a highlights … Read more
It’s not an accident we can run so many different ways, including leaning forward and running upright. Some ways of running are generally better than others, and well-coordinated athletes will find they gravitate towards a fairly consistent set of gait characteristics I call The Balanced Runner Keys. But because truly excellent form is organized by … Read more
There’s no running form “rule” that’s always true and no running form “mistake” that doesn’t serve a purpose in the right situation. So even though leaning forward is virtually always the right thing to do (get the details here), there is one circumstance when a distance runner might spontaneously run upright for a good reason. … Read more
“When you push off the ground, what’s the most important thing you’re pushing forwards?” That’s the question I asked last week, and I got 36 excellent, thoughtful answers–many with great insight into how running works. But only 6 of them were right: the head. When you push off the ground, you’re pushing your whole body … Read more
It’s quiz time again! Test your Balanced Runner IQ by answering this question: When you push against the ground with your foot, what’s the most important thing you’re pushing forwards? The great thing about knowing the answer to this question is that it gives you a very simple key to running faster, easier, and healthier. … Read more
Here’s a simple trick you can do to pick up the pace, especially when you want to run faster but your body just somehow isn’t responding. I’m not a big fan of tricks and hacks. I want you to learn deeply and be transformed. But tricks do have their place, especially for a runner committed … Read more
Conventional wisdom says an upper body strength program helps runners hold their posture and have a better arm carriage. But if you do it right, the benefits go way beyond that. There’s a way to do an upper body workout that actually makes your legs work better, giving you a distinct pop of energy from … Read more
The idea that distance runners should regularly do strength work to avoid injury has become pretty popular in recent years. It can indeed be very helpful for performing your best, and as a human being your fitness needs include other things besides running. But there are some significant potential pitfalls to be aware of if … Read more
Whether or not listening to music while you run is a good idea depends on why you want to do it. Let’s look at the specifics so you can find the best answer for your situation. To Tune Out Pain and Discomfort Some research suggests music effectively does this. But it doesn’t report how the … Read more
Excess tension saps your energy when you run and it can be pretty uncomfortable too. But it’s also hard to get rid of and it usually just comes back. Here’s why. First, consider that you’re never really relaxed when you run. Running is work! That’s part of why we do it, in fact. The feeling … Read more
You’re running and you’re gasping for air. Is it just because you’re running really hard or is there actually a problem with your breathing? Here’s a quick test: Stand up, take a big breath in, hold it and observe: did you lift your shoulders? did your abdomen expand or pull in? did your back arch … Read more
Here’s a resolution that will transform you as an athlete more than anything else you could do. I realize if you were going to set a New Year’s Resolution for your running this year you’ve probably already done it. But as of today you’ve still got 357 days left in the year, so it’s not … Read more
When athletes begin to run in the so-called “super shoes,” such as the Nike Vaporfly series and new models from other companies, running form changes seem to accompany the change in footwear. I want to understand this better, but as different brands make their own versions it becomes more difficult to generalize. For me this … Read more
