Running
A lot has already been said and written about the “ideal” running technique. In the sea of opinions, here’s one more—mine. My own view is still evolving, so don’t pin me down on it if I revisit earlier opinions down the line.
In this group you’ll find several videos of runners, each with well-meant coaching feedback. The comments are based on what is visible in the footage; they don’t necessarily describe the runner as a whole, nor do they imply that the suggested “areas for improvement” are always physically achievable for that individual.
The level of the athletes and the observations can vary widely, even when similar wording is used.
Each clip shows only two strides from a (progressive or accelerated) run, so a small imbalance or misstep may look more dramatic than it actually is.
General coaching focus
When reviewing the footage, the main points of attention were:
- Is the torso stable and upright?
- Does the foot land directly under the body’s center of mass?
- How stable is the knee angle of the stance leg?
- Does the knee of the swing leg pass the stance leg before ground contact?
- Does the swing leg move forward immediately after toe-off?
- Is the pelvis contributing effectively to the running motion?
