RunningAHEAD - Topic: How important is running form?

12 3

How important is running form? (Read 692 times)

Aimster view log Mitch & Pete's Mom	posted: 8/20/2008 at 4:46 PM
	So, my husband, normally a very postitive and supportive influence in my life including my running, had a post-1/2 marathon race question for me. "How come there were people who's running form looked like crap beat you? I mean, you always look relaxed and good out there, you should be placing in your age group." Now is when, I have to put the frying pan down and realize, he lacks a filter on what comes out of his mouth sometimes, he is a male, and above all he is a swimmer. In fact, he is doing the Alcatraz Challenge this weekend. He'll jump off of a perfectly good boat parallel to Alcatraz and swim back to San Francisco's Crissy Field, without a wet suit. He claims it is all about maintaining form and knowing how to "work the current." I gave him a vauge answer about, running form not being everything, mostly it is about miles you put in and blah, blah, blah. I thanked him for thinking that I have it in me to place in my age group. I don't think I was very convincing. Quite possibly because I'm not sure how much form really counts, if you have the endurance and speed work to overcome poopoo form, and your form doesn't cause injury, than form doesn't really matter as much. What would you guys have said? Thanks,
	Finished AFC in 2:00:02. Silver Strand 1/2 1:58. Carlsbad, hmm, I'm thinking, I'm thinking

Dakota RR view log	posted: 8/20/2008 at 4:51 PM
	Go watch the Alcatraz Challenge and ask him why there were people with piss-poor form beating him.
	2009 Goals Sub-18 5k Sub-38 10k Sub-60 15k Sub-3 Marathon

jeffdonahue view log	posted: 8/20/2008 at 4:58 PM
	Quote from Aimster on 8/20/2008 at 4:46 PM: So, my husband, normally a very postitive and supportive influence in my life including my running, had a post-1/2 marathon race question for me. "How come there were people who's running form looked like crap beat you? I mean, you always look relaxed and good out there, you should be placing in your age group." Now is when, I have to put the frying pan down and realize, he lacks a filter on what comes out of his mouth sometimes, he is a male, and above all he is a swimmer. In fact, he is doing the Alcatraz Challenge this weekend. He'll jump off of a perfectly good boat parallel to Alcatraz and swim back to San Francisco's Crissy Field, without a wet suit. He claims it is all about maintaining form and knowing how to "work the current." I gave him a vauge answer about, running form not being everything, mostly it is about miles you put in and blah, blah, blah. I thanked him for thinking that I have it in me to place in my age group. I don't think I was very convincing. Quite possibly because I'm not sure how much form really counts, if you have the endurance and speed work to overcome poopoo form, and your form doesn't cause injury, than form doesn't really matter as much. What would you guys have said? Thanks, I think everyone has their own running form - how your body is best going to move you forward. I remember watching one of the Ironman races on television last year and there was one woman whose running form was utterly ridiculous. She had one leg that swung way out to the side on every step, while the other just went straight forward, but if I remember correctly she was in third when they started the run and ended up winning.
	"80% of success is showing up." ~ Woody Allen "Go that way... really fast. If something gets in your way... turn." ~ Charles DeMar God doesn't give you what you want. He gives you what you need, the rest is up to you.

joe_h view log	posted: 8/20/2008 at 5:00 PM
	don't think form is as critical as it is w/ swimming but also it's about the engine I'm thinking Michael phelps in baggy shorts dragging an anchor will still beat your hubby even with perfect form and a wetsuit. good form is more efficient so you're not wasting energy in swimming or running but if you're working w/ a lawn motor engine you won't win the indy 500.
	Rule #1 for training and racing - If momma ain't happy nobody is happy http://www.athletefocus.com/athlete/Joeh

sparky1 view log Soon to be Dad (Apr. 30)	posted: 8/20/2008 at 5:00 PM
	In swimming, quality (form and technique) is generally more important than the quantity of miles in determining speed and efficiency. In running, quantity of miles (at the amateur level) is more important than form in determining speed and efficiency. Impecable technique and 15 miles/week, will not beat out horrible technique and 40 miles/week in a distance event, all other factors being equal. In my humble opinion.
	Goals for 2009: Find the perfect jogging stroller Sub-3hr Marathon Contemplate an ultra

kencamet view log	posted: 8/20/2008 at 5:15 PM
	I wouldn't take that question as not 'positive and supportive'! If you've got 'good form', put in more miles and see what happens - the hubby may be right.

Aimster view log Mitch & Pete's Mom	posted: 8/20/2008 at 5:32 PM
	Quote from kencamet on 8/20/2008 at 5:15 PM: I wouldn't take that question as not 'positive and supportive'! If you've got 'good form', put in more miles and see what happens - the hubby may be right. At first I didn't want to think of it as positive, but I looking back, I believe he was trying to motivate me.
	Finished AFC in 2:00:02. Silver Strand 1/2 1:58. Carlsbad, hmm, I'm thinking, I'm thinking

jayheavner	posted: 8/20/2008 at 7:02 PM
	I saw someone run last night in a style that...well, picture the late Chris Farley dressed up as the tooth fairy and then imagine how he'd run - elbows up above his eyes, hopping from foot to foot and landing way outside the vertical plane. I passed the same person on the way home 45 mins later and she was still at it...and moving faster than me...maybe form is whatever works for ya.
	2008 Goals Don't attack the guy that passes me like I'm standing still when I think I'm running fast...I can't catch him anyway and I'd just look silly

Iamdenise view log	posted: 8/20/2008 at 7:12 PM
	I have been working on my form. I needed to loosen up a bit and watch to be sure I don't carry my arms too high..learned this the hard way after running a race and felt the stress up around my shoulder blades for the rest of the day. Usually when I run every now and again I try and shake out the tension when I feel like Im doing it again. However, there are times when I run and I could give a damn about my form.
	Running is a big question mark that's there each and every day. It asks you, 'Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strong today? Peter Maher

Scout7 view log CPT Curmudgeon	posted: 8/20/2008 at 7:15 PM
	There is no such thing as perfect form for running. However, there are drills we can do to improve our form, making it more efficient/economical. Form Drills
	Amat victoria curam. Sine labore nihil. Dulcius ex asperis.

Ed4 view log Barefoot and happy	posted: 8/20/2008 at 7:29 PM
	Form is important, but not in the way he's implying. Good form allows you to train more without getting injured. In running, form is all about how much shock you generate and how you distribute it. All else being equal, a runner with poorer form will break at a lower level of training. But there are so many mitigating factors. Some people can just take more punishment, so they can do high mileage with poor form, at least for a while. Some people rely on super cushioned shoes and burn through them ridiculously fast. At the highest levels of competition, there is no room for crappy form. But few of us are at that level.
	Curious about running barefoot? Visit the new barefoot running group.

BenBuck6 view log	posted: 8/20/2008 at 7:41 PM modified: 8/20/2008 at 7:42 PM
	I hate to disagree with all of you, running form is important to me. It can easy your heart-rate, relax you...and definitely improve your kick at the end of a race. Not to mention decrease the chance of injury.
	2008 GOALS GET BELOW 175 (at 175 now) RUN 6:00 MILE (at 6:29) RUN BELOW 25:30 5K RUN BELOW 55:00 10K RUN A MARATHON (DEC. 6TH - MEMPHIS - ST JUDE)

CarmelRunner view log Running with trails	posted: 8/20/2008 at 7:59 PM
	Quote from BenBuck6 on 8/20/2008 at 7:41 PM: I hate to disagree with all of you, running form is important to me. It can easy your heart-rate, relax you...and definitely improve your kick at the end of a race. Not to mention decrease the chance of injury. Ben - I've noted most here think that form is important to an extent that it helps run more efficiently and with less potential for injury and such agree with you. Most great running coaches - Bowerman, Lidyard, Pirie, and so on all had some form items in common.There is a debate about the existence of a perfect running form which is likely not achievable. As for the original question - here is my take. Form can make up for some physical limitations but physical superiority will trump perfect form. Some people will always be faster no matter how they look running - Utta Pippig comes to mind. My form is better than hers but I bet she run me into the ground. Ignore hubby - we guys sometimes disconnect the brain from our tongue at times.
	"He conquers who endures" - Persius "Illegitimis non carborundum" - Gen. Joseph Stilwell

Scout7 view log CPT Curmudgeon	posted: 8/20/2008 at 8:02 PM
	Quote from BenBuck6 on 8/20/2008 at 7:41 PM: I hate to disagree with all of you, running form is important to me. It can easy your heart-rate, relax you...and definitely improve your kick at the end of a race. Not to mention decrease the chance of injury. I don't think the issue is the lack of importance. The issue is how can someone know what "perfect form" is, when there's no such thing, and it's certainly not universal.
	Amat victoria curam. Sine labore nihil. Dulcius ex asperis.

srlopez Guy running in pink	posted: 8/20/2008 at 8:03 PM modified: 8/20/2008 at 8:04 PM
	Ignore hubby - we guys sometimes disconnect the brain from our tongue at times. That's because as guys, our brain is attached to something else. (incidentally, "form" has about 1,000 different parameters ranging from foot strike all the way up to how you hold your head and how relaxed your neck/shoulders are... some of these things are more important than others for a midpack runner in distance events)
	With realistic Pants-on-Fire action!

12 3

Feedback | Help

© 2005 – 2009 RunningAHEAD.com. All rights reserved.