Aside from the obvious things; not clenching your fists or tensing up, and running with as less effort as possible for the pace at hand for the individual, a person should absolutely run how they run, not how someone else runs.

 

I was asked about  a form change in another thread and as I stated there, through all my training and improvements my form has remained unchanged for the most part since my first year of running.

 

The only significant change I made was running centered over my feet as opposed to behind them (over-striding) as I did the first few months I started running.  After that, it has all been about running the same paces with a little effort as possible...becoming light on my feet if you will.

I have never paid any attention to my form, whether or not I should. And I always run solo, so there is no one else to notice. Except the HM in May I was running with my boss; he pointed out (afterwards) I was doing something funny with my right leg - kind of swinging it out with every stride. Of course it feels completely natural to me, I don't know how to do it differently. Also made me think about the fact that the main issues I have (knee and hip) are on the right side. No idea if related, but also no idea how to change even if I wanted to. Seems it would be pretty difficult to change your form substantially. It's one thing for people to change something like a baseball or golf swing, that you do a manageable number of times. But to change every step, for thousands of steps?

 

Cyberic99, what do you mean by running from the glutes?

 

I'm not sure, actually. The idea would be to get the glute muscles involved in my running, as they are strong muscles, instead of running just from the quads and calves. But HOW to do it? I'm trying to figure it out, and might end up like Rick shoveling the idea ahead and maybe take another shot at it in the future.

I ended up doing 5 TM miles before court which went well.  More miles later after Pilates.  Busy day so if I can hit all my miles, I'll be happy.

I don't pay attention to my form until/unless it is giving me issues.  When I first suffered from lower back problems, I learned how to run tightening my abs which helped.  Now that I took care of the fibroids, no more back issues but I still tighten my abs while running.  It also helps me breathe better.

The swing thing with your foot sounds like a pronation problem (under or over). I have that as well. The right shoe would help you with that, to some extent. Do you wear stability shoes?

I have that too, but I don't over-pronate.   The swinging leg makes it look like I do, so I was initially fitted with stability shoes and it was a disaster.   When I realized my wear patterrn actually showed under pronation, I switched back to neutral shoes and that turned my running around.  No more shin splits, PF and AT issues.    I think my swinging leg is due to a leg length imbalance.  It doesn't look pretty, but there's nothing I can do about it.

 

I have that too, but I don't over-pronate.   The swinging leg makes it look like I do, so I was initially fitted with stability shoes and it was a disaster.   When I realized my wear patterrn actually showed under pronation, I switched back to neutral shoes and that turned my running around.  No more shin splits, PF and AT issues.    I think my swinging leg is due to a leg length imbalance.  It doesn't look pretty, but there's nothing I can do about it.

I have a leg length discrepancy as well, but you would hardly know it by watching me run.  I could show you on my shoes though then you would be like wow.

And I do believe finding the right shoes for the individual is as important as any other aspect of running.

Dave have you ever considered a gait analysis?   They are usually free or sometimes are included in therapy.

I just bought an avocado.  Imma 'bout to cut it open and eat it with a spoon.  

We have a bit of a 'cool front' today, high will only be 93 degrees, so I plan on doing some trail running after work.

Nice workout for you Basya.  You're a "Type A" personality, aren't you?  

Yeah, LRB, build your arm strength by doing  a lot of those!  Avocados...ewwww.. yet another food I don't like, lol.

Congrats on getting your weekly mileage back up, Baboon.

Sorry about the sore calves, Cy.   Get some biofreeze...great stuff.

Wow, watching the flowers grow...that's a nice job, Lily, how much does that pay?    Good luck with your miles later.  You will be speeding right along, with the cooler weather, right?    it's better to run as is natural to one's body?  Yes, that is what my docs told me to do.  My body is so messed up, lol, - born with a birth defect, was a March of Dimes baby, have a crooked back and hips I can't put into certain positions, can't point my feet straight when I run or walk cuz that hurts my hips too much - Gail says I look like a big ole pelican when I run, lol - arms 'flapping' and feet splayed out -   and now have arthritis on top if it all - that they told me, "just get out there and run in a way that feels good for you and doesn't give you pain and don't worry about form, etc."  So that's what I've been doing for 31 years.  No, it ain't pretty, but that's okay, I get where I want to go and don't have any pain doing it.  So I guess it's working for me.

Wow, Damaris, you can do court working from home?  Very nice judge you got there!

Congrats on the 8 miles, DaveP, with 5 fast ones thrown in.

Hope your interview went well, Andrew.

Blue...sorry to read about your chicks yesterday.

Good luck with your miles, Slymoon, and nice of you to pace your DW for her miles.

Yep, interview went well. They gave me an assignment. Knowing what I know the situation, write about a page to detail out a plan of action to getting things running better. I have to say, it's the first time I've been given homework.