03/30/2022
Proper running form helps prevent injury! An important aspect of running form is landing position, which in some ways also relates to foot strike. Proper landing position is for the foot to strike the ground directly under or slightly in front of the hips. The running stride takes place under and behind the body, not in front. I keep a mental image of the roadrunner cartoon in my mind to remind myself of what this looks like 😜
There are two reasons why this correct form is very important:
👉 From an injury prevention standpoint, when a runner extends their stride in front of them ("overstriding") the hamstring is in an excessively elongated position and the knee tends to be less flexed upon impact. This places greater stress on the hamstring and creates a stiffer landing stress on the body, and the hamstring additionally engages to bring the body over the foot to complete this phase of the stride cycle.
👉 From a running efficiency standpoint, when a runner lands in front of their center of gravity, the transition to natural forward propulsion is interrupted. With proper running form, as the foot strikes the ground underneath the body, there is a fluid downward and backward motion as if the foot is already moving backwards when it strikes.
✅ Improper landing position is one of the most common form flaws I witness on a regular basis and because of the potential for injury and the inefficiency it creates, I prefer to help athletes improve this part of their running stride. There are several proprioceptive cues that can help, the most important of which is to lead with your hips and seek to land slightly behind your body (at first a corrected landing position can feel odd, as if you're landing behind yourself).
