A Question of Style
Something I saw on Posetech made it absolutely clear to me. Most people think they are good natural runners and lots tend to say that you shouldn’t meddle with “natural running style” as it can only lead to injury etc…
It is difficult to talk about this without giving the wrong impression and sounding evangelical but I’ll try my best. Unfortunately most people don’t realise that what they think they are running like bears no resemblance to what they actually run like. Yes, the cynics will be groaning again but it is true. It isn’t just me being evangelical about running, it is inescapable truth and you can see it for yourself on video here. Incidentally all of the runners with their own inherent styles are quite accomplished runners; just imagine what they could do with positive tweaks to their style.
I enclose a quote from the lovely Jacky on Posetech to set the scene for the video that follows…
“In discussions about running form, it is often said that every human body (with its own individual characteristics) has its own natural running style, which doesn’t need education as the body knows how to work that out best by itself.
I hope this vid might help to make the opposite of the above said more clear. A running standard as set by pose is unique and doesn’t seem to be a bad idea . The vid shows nine different runners; five athletes running their own style and four pose trained runners. Read the info block right under the vid as well.”
To me it makes no sense to say that we have a natural running form unique to ourselves and that it cannot be changed. After all, do we ever say that about swimmers, golfers, tennis players? Of course we don’t. We accept that these sports are a learned skill that can be improved through proper training in technique. The facts are there, make of them what you will.