I have a question for the running gurus. I am a fair runner for my age (44), a 3:30 marathoner, 1:40 half, 4:00 IM mary, but I think I have very poor running form. I am a very hard striker, probably even a slapper. It’s so bad that my buddies at the gym could tell when I was on the treadmill because they could hear me when they were coming up the stairs. As far as I know I have always run this way.
Some possible culprits (all just shots in the dark):
I have a high arch (I use Kayanos wiith Superfeet orthotics to compensate)
very tight hamstrings and ITBs (I stretch and stretch all the time, but still can barely reach my toes).
large feet on a small body (5’7" and a 10-and-a-half shoe)
I really don’t know.
Any thoughts?
Can this be changed, or is it something that I have to live with.
Any thoughts?
I have some, but I never finished an IM, so I’ll refrain from sharing them with you.
It was not a question about doing an IM, it’s a question about running form. But hey, that’s cool.
it s not in streaching and streaching that your ITB and hamstring will get looser… you have a bio mechanic problem that need to be adress and most likely some muscular knots that need to be releive so the tension in muscle goes away… streaching wont do any good.
running form can be change, it s not somethjing you have to live with… just need someone with you to correct you and work on drills, biomechanic and form…
my advice… go read the site Tpmassageball… and see if it could help you… it help most people actually…
then, find a great coach that could help you correct your bad form… and like paulo said!!! that coach doesnt have to be a great runner but mostly, a very knowledgable person on the subject!
jonnyo, just read your updated website. are those swim times short course meters or long course meters? either way, you should be one of the first out of the water. if long course, then you will be way out there…good luck!
it s not in streaching and streaching that your ITB and hamstring will get looser… you have a bio mechanic problem that need to be adress and most likely some muscular knots that need to be releive so the tension in muscle goes away… streaching wont do any good.
running form can be change, it s not somethjing you have to live with… just need someone with you to correct you and work on drills, biomechanic and form…
my advice… go read the site Tpmassageball… and see if it could help you… it help most people actually…
then, find a great coach that could help you correct your bad form… and like paulo said!!! that coach doesnt have to be a great runner but mostly, a very knowledgable person on the subject!
good luck!
Thanks Jonathan. I saw the TP Massageball demonstrated at IMFL and I tried it out. I liked it, but I thought it was a little on the pricey side. I use a foam roller now daily to help loosen up the ITBs, but on your recommendation, I’ll give the TP Massageball another closer look.
i wont be out first of the water… Kieren is way faster and will have Sibberson to pull him. I will go for a relax swim in the second pack and sacrifice a minute or 2 and swim easy…to gain 4-5 minutes on the run…
Can you further explain the biomechanical problem that you’re talking about?
Yeah, biomechanics and things such as “knots” play a role in muscular tightness and such, but stretching will go a long ways to lengthen a viscoelastic tissue such as a muscle.
Not trying to nit-pick, just asking for further clarification about what you mean here, thanks!