Working On Gait And Form
To improve your running, we must first determine what type of athlete you are. Do you have an injury? Are you just starting out? Or do you have experience and know exactly what you’re doing? Once you’ve determined your level of expertise, you can then work towards improving your overall performance.
One of the best ways to improve your running is to focus on your body mechanics, known as gait and form.
If your coach notices that you tend to fall onto your heels when running, they could suggest that you try to change your gait so that you run on your midfoot instead. A second important factor to consider is your step length, which your coach would analyse and try to improve, and which you may find increases your pace. Lastly, we will ensure that your posture remains good during your runs.
For instance, if you’re one of the many runners who has overdeveloped quads but weak glutes and hamstrings, your trainer can show you exercises to strengthen them. More important than anything else, though, he or she can watch your form and give you feedback so you know when you’re doing things correctly.
Sometimes muscular imbalances don’t result from a weakness in muscle strength but rather from a weakness in flexibility. In these cases, the personal trainer can help you learn proper stretching techniques. After your muscles are fully recovered, they will function better than before.
Improvements to running technique may also include changes to the way the arms move during the swing phase of the gait cycle. These changes may involve making adjustments to the path the arms follow as they swing from side to side, as an improved arm swing can add power to your stride.
For runners, greater strength, improved flexibility, better form, and faster running time combine to improve performance.