Running Basics - The Do's And Don'ts of Running

Running is a passion we all share at The Running Hub, but we all know and live by the saying "safety first". This video covers the basics of running, covering aspects you want to occur which will enhance your experience, and highlighting common mistakes which are holding you back. Enjoy!

Now that's what I call a short, concise, and to the point informational video!

I've summarized the wrongs we are prone to commit while running, as well as the rights we should be focusing on replacing them with, which Dr. Daniel Lieberman discussed in the video.

Over-striding: Or landing with your foot notably ahead of the center of gravity of your body, is commonly believed among runners to increase speed and efficiency. However, over-striding has been proven to only waste energy while running, and possibly lead to injuries.

Solution: Try not to lunge forward while running. The next time you go out for a run, attempt to land every step with your foot underneath your body. 

Landing on your heel: Doing this, you are just stopping your forward momentum and putting excess stress on your knees.

Solution: Try to focus on landing on the ball of your foot, with your foot positioned directly underneath your body in every step. This way, you keep your momentum while running, gain speed, and avoid injury.

Leaning forward: Leaning forward at the hips while running is also another invite for injury to come your way.

Solution: Instead of leaning forward, try to keep yourself in a vertical line, from the hips up.

Thumping: Landing on your feet in a very hard manner, also known as thumping, indicates poor running form. This sound indicates a hard collision between your body and the ground.

Solution: Keeping the contact between your body and the ground while running as light as possible should do the trick.

So, that about sums it up! One thing remains however, and that also comes from personal experience. Patience, patience, patience. P-A-T-I-E-N-C-E. Yell it out loud, spell it letter by letter, write it on a sticky note and post it on your forehead, whatever works for you. I cannot stress it enough. 

If you're newly introduced to the world of running, take it slow. Take it day by day, and aim for gradual, long term progress. This is a key for success in life, no matter what you're doing. Whoever came up with the phrase "baby steps" hit the nail right on the head!