Running techniques for beginners in 3 steps

Finally, spring is here, at the moment when I write this article.

And when spring is here, the weather invites you to go out more often for a walk or a jog.

If you want learning and enjoy the run please follow me in this article where I will share some running techniques for beginners.

I start running 4 year ago and I thought I did well till the moment when a friend of mine invite me to a training for running techniques. What? Do I need a training for learning how to run?

As you imagine I start laughing in an instant. But I follow my friend to this training and I was surprise to see that we were not alone.

The training have had 3 steps:

• Step 1: Focus on lower body
• Step 2: Focus on upper body
• Step 3: What is a good stride and what is not? The purpose is to take a first step towards a more efficient stride allowing you to run faster with a lower effort

Interesting right? For beginners, I’ll talk about the lower and upper body muscles.

Running benefits

The benefits are for both beginner/enthusiasts and professionals .

First of all, it’s a good method to loss weight and then keep it. The running consumes 80 cal for each kilometer. It helps to improve the cardiovascular health.

During running, the body releases endorphins which help to cure depression and anxiety.

This is an aerobic exercise and the scientists discovered that the life expectancy is increased with 3 years.

1. Preventing loss of bone density and muscle tone

Running uses the bone and muscular system long enough to keep them in shape. Regular physical movement stimulates human growth hormone production

2. Disease prevention

Regular exercise has become a therapeutic alternative for the early stages of osteoporosis, diabetes and high blood pressure.

Running reduces the risk of a myocardial infarction, improving artery elasticity and reducing blood pressure.

3. Improving health

Running increases good HDL cholesterol in the body, reduces the risk of blood clots and stimulates lung function. In addition, this form of motion strengthens the immune system, increasing the concentration of lymphocytes, white blood cells that fight disease.

4. Stress release

Running is also an excellent form of elimination of tension accumulated due to daily stress.

Long-distance running also helps treat headaches on the nervous background, experts say.

5. Training the mind

The running trains the mind as much as the body.

The ambition of overcoming obstacles, improving concentration, and stimulating the need for self-deception are important psychological benefits offered by running.

6. Improving body coordination

The uneven surfaces, obstacles and correction of body posture help to develop better body coordination.

Known running techniques

I was surprised to discover that running has a couple of available techniques. You know that saying “The man, as long as he lives, learn”.

The most known techniques are Chi Running and Pose Running.

Both techniques are body friendly and are characterized by their slightly leaning position towards the front of the body.

The Pose has forefoot landing and Chi has mid-foot landing.

Pose running method was developed by Nicholas Romanov somewhere in ’70s and Chi Running was developed by Danny Dreyer in 1999.

Chi Running is a running technique very similar with yoga and it’s said that reduces the risks of injuries.

Teaching the technique – running sequences

Teaching running techniques became very popular lately.

As trivial it seems, running is composed of several moves.

The foot position relative to the ground: when the food is in the air we have the swing position.

The landing phase: when foot touches the ground known as foot strike.

At the moment when foot “leaves” the ground is the propulsion phase.

Are you still with me? OK. Let’s continue.

About the foot strike phase are debates how well it is from the health point of view and efficient to land.

There are 3 types of landing:

1. hell-strike
2. mid-foot strike
3. forefoot strike

There is the tendency of your body to incline forward when you run quicker. The landing will change based on your speed and anatomy of the field.

Basic rules for a correct running

– Right body posture

Stand straight! Look ahead, not at your feet or at the running track. When you are tired, often forget about this and you want to lower your head.

During running keep the trunk perfectly straight, with shoulders slightly raised. Push the hips forward and step so that you have full stability.

Hands should be at the level of the hips, the elbows bent at 90 degrees.

The arms move from the shoulder to keep the angle of 90 degrees.

It is wrong to run with your arms folded at the top of the body because you close the rib cage and less air enters the lungs.

Leave your palms as relaxed and held as if you had a sheet of paper between the thumb and the index finger.

Do not tighten your fists.

Your face should not be tense. Think of something beautiful while you run.

– Relaxation

The tension in the arms, shoulders, neck and face reduces the efficiency of the run.

– Breathing

It must be deep and rhythmic, never superficial. Exhale with a controlled force. Maintain a rhythm and you will gain more strength.

– Landing

At each new step, make sure the weight is distributed on the center of the sole, not on the toes or heels.

Preparing to run

You probably remember that when we were kids we didn’t need a preparing for run.

• Warming up

Rotate your head, arms and body. When you are run, you do not use only the feet, the whole body is moving.

You can make some squats, rotation of forearms and knees and stretch the legs very easily.

Do not force the muscles, stretch the leg slightly and hold for 10 seconds.

• Stretching to avoid injuries

Keep stretching for the end of the workout. Stretching when the muscles are not warm up can cause problems.

After running walk easy for couple of minutes.

Then repeat the exercises you have done to warm up and focus more on stretching.

Do not forget to drink plenty of water after running.

• Adapt for season

– if it’s warm avoid direct sun, wear sunglasses and cover your head

– do not wear to many clothes when is cold. You will lose more water through perspiration

– if you run under 0 degrees, cover all exposed skin

– wear reflex vests or other reflex elements if you run when is dark, you will be visible

– stay hydrated summer and winter

Focus on lower and upper body

Running uses the thigh muscles, the muscles of the lower limbs, muscles from hips and buttocks but also the muscles of the upper body – back and abdominal muscles.

So, how do I run?

I think it’s important to understand the running sequence and to use it instead of learning one technique and applying it in all situations.

When you are running on a flat, you try to land with your feet below the basin by making small steps.

Running uphill, probably you will run very slowly or you will walk. Downhill probably you will like most.

Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments below! I’m happy to hear your opinions.

Thanks for reading! If you’re interested in more running stuff, I recommend reading “Running athletic shoes – how to choose” article