How important is running form? (Read 1063 times)

Swimmers are big on form. Form matters a little in running but it matters a A LOT less in running than it does in swimming. This is because swimming is a far less efficient activity. I read somewhere (Science of Sport I think) that about 7% of a swimmer's work is actually useful in moving him or her forward. So a 1% improvement in efficiency can have a much greater impact on a swimmers performance than, say, a runner who improved her efficiency from 28 to 29%. Fitness matters far more than form in running.

I see people in marathons running like a wounded duck who finish ahead of me, but I never see these types of runners finishing ahead of me in shorter races like a 5K where I am much more competitive. My PR at the marathon distance though is at a 8:00 pace, whereas my PR at the 5K is at a 5:40 pace. I think form matters a lot more when you get to a faster pace.

Paula Radcliffe has terrible form. She's the current world record holder for the women's marathon.

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,

Train well, Race, Beat his ass, then tell 'im, "good form."

Paula Radcliffe has terrible form. She's the current world record holder for the women's marathon.

Really? Just because her head bobs? If you look at her body position, stride length and turnover I think you'll see some pretty impressive stuff. Compare her form to 95% of female marathoners and you'll see. Anyway I think 2:15 is good form!

You gotta remember, every person's body is a little bit different than the next guy/gal. What looks like bad form on one person (say Paula) is actually the most efficient way THAT person runs. I think she would have stubbled by now upon a different form if it made her run faster. I know when I try to change my "natural" form, I start sucking wind.

You gotta remember, every person's body is a little bit different than the next guy/gal. What looks like bad form on one person world record holding marathoner (say Paula) is actually the most efficient way THAT person runs.

Fixed for you. Plenty of people run with poor form. That is to say, form that, if improved, would result in faster, more efficient running.