This is a video of my stepson who is mid 30’s and just started running about 3 months ago. He did his first 1/2 marathon in about 1:32. He is very motivated to become as good as possible and is not up to about 40 mpw training. Now that he has a reasonable running base we will be starting him on the PC’s soon.
Anyhow, I think his running form is exceptional for such a neophyte and the problems I see are mostly in his upper body, not being relaxed and seemingly leaning forward to much. However, I would like the criticism of some of the real runners out there. Thanks.
No expert, but he doesn’t look too bad to me A closer, slower view of his feet would help, cadence seemed a bit slow, but I didn’t time it (I know the second part was slowed). i don’t think he leans too much, but I’m somewhat an advocate that a slight lean (not bent at the waist though) is good.
It appears he may be pushing off a bit more with his right leg at toe off which is then causing him to slightly (just slightly) overstride with his left. With the addition of PC’s this may get rid of that hitch in his giddie-up. Overall though, I could see that he could lean from his ankles a ‘bit’ more as it looks like he has a forward lean at the waist instead.
As you say, he looks tense throughout his body, not just the upper.
To me, it looks like his natural stride is probably longer than what hes doing in the video, he looks “chopped” short is about the only way I can put it. Also, as BarryP said, he is flat footed, and it doesn’t look like he is getting a real push forward from the trailing foot, more just kind of lifting it up. His foot barely flexes past the 90 degree point. (That might be why it looks chopped, he’s not getting much extension behind him.)
I agree with Devlin’s observation that the stride looks clipped. I’m not sure if the stride has to be lengthened so much as finished.
Look at the leg movement in the Halle video. The knees come up higher and the kick back is much stronger.
I think he would benefit from some form work that exaggerates the stride. Alternating between high knees and kicking his own ass by flipping his heels into his butt. Just to get use to the feeling of running a full stride.
To be fair, you should pick a video of someone running the same speed.
If I think of it, I’ll look for something later. Victory laps are usually good vids.
I agree that there will be a big difference between someone running a 7 minute mile and someone going sub 5. However, I don’t think someone can get to the 5 mile mark without making the changes suggested. But, most of those changes are simply one of effort and speed, not one of basic form. I appreciate the comments so far.
To be fair, you should pick a video of someone running the same speed.
If I think of it, I’ll look for something later. Victory laps are usually good vids.
I agree that there will be a big difference between someone running a 7 minute mile and someone going sub 5. However, I don’t think someone can get to the 5 mile mark without making the changes suggested. But, most of those changes are simply one of effort and speed, not one of basic form. I appreciate the comments so far.
True enough. And to be fair, 90% of us would look like clipped strides compared to HG.
But, his does look unfinished. Kind of like a swimmer whose legs just kind of trail behind him…
To be fair, you should pick a video of someone running the same speed.
If I think of it, I’ll look for something later. Victory laps are usually good vids.
I agree that there will be a big difference between someone running a 7 minute mile and someone going sub 5. However, I don’t think someone can get to the 5 mile mark without making the changes suggested. But, most of those changes are simply one of effort and speed, not one of basic form. I appreciate the comments so far.
True enough. And to be fair, 90% of us would look like clipped strides compared to HG.
But, his does look unfinished. Kind of like a swimmer whose legs just kind of trail behind him…
John
I agree he looks unfinished but it is hard for me to say much bad about what his lower extremities are doing for the speed he is going. He is getting his foot up higher than most and he is not overstriding. So, I came to the conclusion his “unfinished look” had to be from the waist up. It is one reason I posted this for comment so I could better give him a direction to go from here, beyond just keep running.
