Today’s Tip – Pay more attention to your rhythm and stride instead of your speed.
I was running last weekend, and about two-thirds of the way through my run I was passed by another runner. Since I don’t get passed too often (competitive much?) I watched the other runner to see what he was doing, and as he pulled away I was reminded of an important lesson. He did not seem to be running harder than I was, and did not appear to be making a strong effort – maybe he had just started his run :). The one thing that stood out was his stride. He appeared to be running in a very consistent rhythm and his strides were not very long. They were just very consistent and quick.
This reminded me of something I frequently read in articles about running. Most runners, especially beginners, tend to take too long of a stride, thinking that this will generate power and speed. There is certainly a time and place to lengthen your stride, but consistently over-striding is actually inefficient and it leads to unnatural forces on the joints, resulting in soreness and pain. Also, you do not tend to run faster over the entire run.
So, as I was reminded on my run, focus on a stride that you can easily continue over a long period of time. Don’t worry so much about your speed; instead, focus on consistency and maintaining your rhythm and pace. If you do that, then the speed will follow. A faster speed has more to do with increasing your number of strides per minute than it does taking a longer stride. Keep that in mind, and you will enjoy running over a longer period of time, and will be more likely to stay pain free.
It works the same in life. When we are faced with big tasks or projects we often want to make big steps, thinking we will get done more quickly. Then, we find out that these “big steps” just tend to make use off-balance and wear us out more quickly. Instead of over-striding in our daily life and work, let’s focus on rhythm and consistency. You might be amazed at what you can accomplish, even if it doesn’t look like you trying as hard.
Fitness and Life 