One of the generally accepted elements of good running technique these days is cultivating a stride rate of 180 or above (meaning your feet touch the ground 180 or more times per minute). For a number of years I have recommended this as well. However a few clues have recently begun to suggest something different to me, and this month … Read more
My favorite thing about writing running form analysis of big races is that, in spending the 10+ hours it takes to study the video, write about my observations clearly, and illustrate them properly, I always learn something. Occasionally it is major. That was my happy experience last weekend when I wrote about the 2015 London … Read more
This post is part of the The Balanced Runner Keys series. You’re probably reading this blog because you want to learn the right way to run. You may have very pressing reasons for that — perhaps you’re hurt, or you feel like running is really taking a toll on your body, or you feel there’s … Read more
You read this blog to help you learn running technique that feels healthy, natural, and fluid. You read it to help you fulfill your potential for joyful running and excellent performance. But there’s a limit to what reading about running technique can do, and perhaps you’re beginning to feel you’d like to move beyond the theory … Read more
Last week I came across Steve Maxwell’s Vestibular Reset on Christopher McDougall’s blog. It looked good to me so I’ve been testing it out as a pre-run warmup. Take a look at the video and read the accompanying article first and then come back for my comments. This “vestibular reset” could also be called a … Read more
This post is part of the The Balanced Runner Keys series. Distance running arm swing tends to be an afterthought — you probably think of it after your footstrike, your core, your posture, your cadence, and so forth. That’s a mistake, since your running form is a whole-body cycle of events driven by your relationship … Read more
This week’s guest post is the third and final installment of the series on natural eating for runners by nutritional therapist Frances Bavin. She wraps up by helping you figure out how much to eat, how to handle hydration in a whole-foods way, and how to find real foods to substitute for gels and energy … Read more
This week’s blog post is another guest post by nutritional therapist Frances Bavin. In it she tackles the subject of nutrient density, shifting the focus from foods you should avoid — which is how dietary recommendations are so often oriented — to foods you should eat. Some of these foods may surprise you! Are you … Read more
You may already be thinking about your ankles to some extent, trying not to reach your foot forward and aim your heel towards the ground as you run. But the moment before footstrike, when you’re about to collide with the ground, is perhaps the most difficult part of the gait cycle to manipulate because if … Read more
I’ve just returned from several weeks of travel — not all vacation by a long shot, but there was a break at the end to celebrate Thanksgiving with family in the US. I was surprised to feel how refreshed I was when I returned home and got back to my usual schedule of clients, classes, … Read more
Have you ever been out for a run and found yourself struggling through hip flexor tighness, tight calves, or tight muscles elsewhere? I have a trick for you to deal with the tightness effectively while you’re out on your run, without needing a foam roller, a massage therapist, or any other equipment you’re not likely … Read more
