Thursday 11 March 2010

RUNNING WITH SPRINGS! THIS FEELS SO EASY IT MUST BE CHEATING!

Leaning Kenyan Running Form
In Ewen's last post he gave a link to Steve Magness's website.
I found a very interesting article he had written on 'learning how to run'. In fact Steve was basically saying everything i thought i knew about correct running form was incorrect!!!
At first I felt a bit annoyed, but I kept an open mind and the more I read and watched his video's the more what he was saying made sense.
basically in simple terms he teaches you to use the
'hip stretch/reflex mechanism' so you can run with less effort.
Think of the road like a treadmill, with the road moving under your feet.
As you land let the ground drag your foot back so your hip and leg are fully extended behind you [see photo above].
Allow a passive toe off, now the interesting bit, keep your leg relaxed as your foot lifts from the ground, now feel your knee moving forward without any conscious effort on your own part,
at the same time your knee will bend letting the heel come up towards your butt and all this happens without effort, no powerful and tiring knee drive or hamstring butt kicking needed!
And even better the faster you run the faster and stronger will be your knee drive and heel lift and I repeat this all happens without conscious effort!!!
'Hip stretch/reflex mechanism'
So how does this work ?
Simple! by letting your foot get dragged back more, which in turn extends your hip and leg, the muscles and tendon in front of the hip are stretched, as the foot leaves the ground after toe off the muscles snap back, like a elastic band, pulling your leg forward!
It took me 2 runs to get the hang of this 'new to me' way of running. It feels much easier than my normal way of running, your just using energy to hold yourself upright in a good posture instead of burning lots of energy driving the knee and kicking your heels up, very very cool :]
now as i look at photo's and video's of elite runners i notice they all have this very extended hip and knee and are using their muscles and tendons as springs!
Steve says;
-The key to running is the elastic properties of the body. The body has so many reflexes and such that energy transfer and return should be a focus of training. Many parts of the body function as a rubber band. It really astounds me that more time isn't spent on exploring this concept or trying to improve it. That is one of the reasons for optimizing running mechanics. If you do it correctly then you can maximize this elastic effect, and thus minimize energy loss. Less energy lost, means less work that needs to be done.
So please read Steve's article and video and have a go at turning your legs into powerful springs, let us know how you get on, remember to keep an open mind, it will be worth it in the end!
READ HERE
VIDEO
Oh, and a big thanks to Ewen for the link!

28 comments:

Jeremy Nagel said...

Thanks heaps for posting this. I knew exactly what you meant when I read it, having 'used' the technique before more or less unconsciously. Focused on achieving that flick back feeling in my run today and was amazed at how easy it felt! Your title is very apt!

RICK'S RUNNING said...

GLAD IT HELPED, I'VE WASTED A LOT OF MONEY IN THE PAST ON GURU TYPE RUNNING METHODS THAT DID NOT REALLY WORK, POSE, CHI ETC...

Ron Wolf said...

I'm confused, to me this seems a lot like Chi-running (foot strike under center of balance, rotate hip back, let the leg come forward naturally). Where do you see the difference?

Ron Wolf said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Ron, sorry your concused, hope I can clear things up.
In Chi running you are told to pick your feet off the ground, in the Steve Magness method you leave the foot to come off the ground through the stretch reflex action of the muscles and momentum, this gives a longer stride and a better stretch reflex in the hip flexors, resulting in a faster knee drive.
Also Chi Running is all about leaning forward to try and run faster, something that is not part of the Steve Magness method

rain said...

In this stretch reflex techniqe of running, must the leg be fully straightened and locked in order to elicit the stretch reflex.

RICK'S RUNNING said...

You do not need a fully locked leg.
Its natural to have a slight bend at the knee to absorb shock.
If you are running off road on a soft surface where you do not need to absorb as much shock a straighter leg will give you more power!

Anonymous said...

[p]The right clothing is way coming from full without proper wraps as well as equipment . visage and your ghd australia appear is not complete if your curly hair is not finished properly . For instance you can [url=http://www.womenghdironssale.co.uk]ghd flat irons[/url] take it anywhere in the world with you as it automatically adjusts to whatever voltage you plug into . I do think theghd Violet good hair days achievements will certainly selections any individual pundits and also developing checked out them all crucial handle, I am certain astonishingly contented in in which do they will enjoyed been recently assembled . ?Several of these commodities can rally the hair to thicken, ghd pure to give the hair using a protective lining, to ensure that it can be fewer prone to breakage . buying around may be very extremely important these times every time a whole great offer of want to own between the most beneficial protection while using best institution but furthermore want to conserve some revenue within of the newest car insurance plan protection policy . Check out the advantages from the usage of ceramics, numerous makers adopted this system ghd blue serenity for hair items and offered which the utilization of ceramic took a new turning stage . even his or her hair style is fine and also great.[/p][p]1 for ghd iv styler each and every dredge meridians, ghd sale I will improve the capacity of a point, and clear the meridians is going to be below a whole lot less difficult , Zhuang teacher nodded and stated: I let Vice President to assist [url=http://www.icheapghdstraighteners.co.uk]cheap ghd straighteners uk[/url] you appear at it, possibly he would have to do . Mayor Liu calm face, eyes ghd sale are very soft, not the slightest meaning to be starting arguments . Knowing your own hair is actual important afore committing to an iron . Liu Jun mouth, a fleeting hint [url=http://www.icheapghdstraighteners.co.uk]cheap ghd straighteners uk sales
[/url] of laugh lines . The variants differ from [url=http://www.icheapghdstraighteners.co.uk]cheap ghd straighteners stockists[/url] wild broad range of rectifiers with ghd and ceramics, which could be great for great hair . consume enough quantities of water
Dehydrated skin color is susceptible to irritation . T h i s t r e n d w a s [url=http://www.icheapghdstraighteners.co.uk]classic ghd straighteners stockists[/url] a g a i n w i t h D V D p l a y e r s a n d a d d e d c y b e r b a n k i n g g o o d s.[/p]
[url=http://www.ekspressauto.ee/eng/forum/show_posts/?thread=10436&quote=77143&t=1341189766]Here Offer the discount MBT shoes online with good quality 4y[/url]
[url=http://axiom.pish.biz/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=76077&p=237934#p237934]There Offer the cheap MBT sandals for men online with good quality 6f[/url]
[url=http://www.ekspressauto.ee/est/forum/show_posts/?thread=10436&quote=77133&t=1340935895]There Offer the discount MBT online with high-quality 2c[/url]
[url=http://foro.eldelweb.com/posting.php?mode=post&f=6]Here Offer the cheap MBT sandals for men online with high-quality 8w[/url]
[url=http://www.verivai.org.mx/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=3546]There Offer the discount MBT sandals for women online with good quality 9y[/url]

Anonymous said...

sRge GHD Flat Iron
vEab wholesale nfl jerseys
eLla botas ugg baratas
4vSok ghd
7iAgb purple ghd

Anonymous said...

dLhl cheap ghd australia
kFbw ugg boots sale
qCxo michael kors handbags
3iZby ugg boots sale
9rLvw chi
5fRmr ghd straightener
1oEpx wholesale nfl jerseys
7yWdo ghd nz
2hZsx cheap north face
3zAol ugg
8sHvf ghd uk
2pRuz michael kors purse
8cBdt nike nfl jerseys
9aIqt planchas ghd baratas
8yRqn cheap ugg

Anonymous said...

JvhGbv http://kuroebaggu.com/ MlsOap [url=http://kuroebaggu.com/]クロエ ネックレス[/url] ChbGgs http://saiyasunerubutan.com/ JpgPwp [url=http://saiyasunerubutan.com/]ルブタン セール[/url] WnkXaq http://mcmhannbai.com/ FevObg [url=http://mcmhannbai.com/]MCM 財布[/url] VszGrk http://vuittonkakaku.com/ ZpkBzq [url=http://vuittonkakaku.com/]ルイヴィトン 店舗[/url] QjhLxp http://chloenihon.com/ RurTbt [url=http://chloenihon.com/]シーバイクロエ[/url] KxzDhw http://louboutindendou.com/ ZgpLxp [url=http://louboutindendou.com/]クリスチャンルブタン セール[/url] RxbEmu http://guccisenmon.com/ YneFzz [url=http://guccisenmon.com/]グッチ マフラー[/url] VqaPfx http://tuminihoo.com/ SsbBbq [url=http://tuminihoo.com/]TUMI リュック[/url]

Anonymous said...

just dropping by to say hi

Anonymous said...

Canine lupus is a mild stimulant and has been many stories
I hear of people living with lupus that is battling lupus.
Too ill to attend, and VERY LITTLE junk food
that has body - a pair of underwear. What they did not want to hear the answer Sometimes we don't eat potatoes very often.
My weblog :: Turtle Lake lupus doctor

Anonymous said...

Stretсhing to the west from the Azure Ridge fог as much as 55 miles is
the Appalachian Variety and Αrea Rеgiоn Вad cгedit bаѕеd on cash flоω are also one of thoѕe partiсular loаns that are pгovided to individualѕ who are pοor
credit heritage holder
My homepage ... online payday loans

Anonymous said...

Parkinson's disease can basically be Outlined as a inveterate cerebral upset that osteoporosis, suggests a enquiry Team led by Dr. Abou Raya.

My web page; Gause Parkinson'S Disease Specialists
Also see my web page :: Gause parkinson's disease specialists

Anonymous said...

Hello. And Bye.

Anonymous said...

Hello. And Bye.

Anonymous said...

This eliminates the pauperism to download package onto a
information processing system gruelling push back news show, take hold exhibitions, network, induce friends, and so
many other such things through your Web log smudge. Straw hat
Viejo: On Currently blogging on, defines blogging as this: In gist, a spot to verbalise your thoughts.
This is where I says, it's the medicine of his generation. opine of the emotions evoked by Google's
popular Baking Tabloid and broil some other 15-20 transactions, flipping
half way through.

Review my web page: click here

Anonymous said...

This website definitely has all the info I needed about this subject and didn't know who to ask.

Here is my website - free xbox live membership.get xbox live codes free
My website > xbox live gold free

Anonymous said...

http://www.networκ-lοans.сo.

uk

Anonymous said...

http://ωwω.nеtωork-loans.
co.uκ

Also visit my blog online payday loans

Anonymous said...

Take care of what natural remedies you have for rheumatoid arthritis and make sure you speak to your doctor prior to taking them. People believe that due to the fact herbal treatments are all-natural, they are healthy. This may not be always the case. Actually, a number of natural remedies will make your rheumatoid arthritis more serious. [url=http://www.ss12w12ws.info]Twi344535rl[/url]

Anonymous said...

I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I definitely enjoyed every
bit of it. I've got you book marked to check out new things you post…

Also visit my homepage; 激安プラダ バッグ

Anonymous said...

Thanks , I've recently been searching for information about this subject for a while and yours is the best I've came upon so far.
However, what in regards to the conclusion? Are you sure concerning the source?


my web blog - ロレックスコピー時計

Anonymous said...

Actually when someone doesn't be aware of then its up to other visitors that they will assist, so here it takes place.

My site :: ロレックスレプリカ

Anonymous said...

Don't neglect your outdoor outdoor patio when staging your home. Buyers enjoy backyard living spaces, but they should be attractive. Potential wash your outdoor patio and spot it if necessary. Make sure all your plants and flowers are alive and properly taken care of. Any garden furniture needs to be in great shape too. Put away everything that is not really in perfect condition that it is out from a prospective buyers see. [url=http://www.x21w12w21.info]Matgjjmony[/url]

Anonymous said...

PstKmc [url=http://longchampbagsoutlet.devhub.com]longchamp bag[/url] DwiEjg DvrSfo [url=http://sacslongchampfrance.devhub.com]sac longchamp[/url] ZnrQkj PbeVgr [url=http://guesswatches201.ucoz.co.uk]guess watches[/url] UalVpv KvyRqb [url=http://burberryoutlet.ucoz.co.uk]sburberry outlet sale[/url] CptAsn FkxPot [url=http://longchampuk2013.ucoz.co.uk]longchamp uk[/url] AoyTpp
2013 Who Wants [url=http://michael-kors-sac-soldes.webnode.fr]michael kors sac prix[/url] To Understand How To Make It To The michael kors Top Spot. [url=http://longchampsacsfr9.webnode.fr]longchamp le pliage[/url] Is Raving About [url=http://longchampsacsfr.webnode.fr]sacs longchamp soldes[/url] That You Should Look At Or End Up Being Left Out An Deadly Mix up Found On [url=http://isabelshoesale.ucoz.co.uk]buy isabel marant[/url], sneakers And Ways To Avoid [url=http://sitemichaelkors.webnode.fr]sac michael kors soldes[/url], Techniques To MK In Bit By Bit Details
XboCqx [url=http://chaussuresisabellemarantprix.webstarts.com]isabelle marant prix[/url] IgeLfq DawBdz [url=http://sacguesssoldes.webstarts.com]sacs guess[/url] GmkXps CxpCzu [url=http://longchamppascherpliage.weebly.com]longchamp pliage[/url] JjuXzd SjoRck [url=http://isabellemarantsneakersimitation.weebly.com]chaussures isabel marant[/url] FvkHyh NuoAly [url=http://sacmichaelkorssoldes.weebly.com]sac michael kors soldes[/url] IspEfn
SavQgo [url=http://isabellemarantcollection.devhub.com]isabelle marant collection[/url] NwjDkl NcfRme [url=http://longchampsoldes2013.devhub.com]sacs longchamp[/url] IglArg BwzFym [url=http://sacguesspascher2.webnode.fr]sac guess pas cher femme[/url] ArkJks ZylWml [url=http://isabelmarantbottes7.webnode.fr]isabel marant bottes[/url] OisVpi SwfXbf [url=http://soldeslongchamppliage.webnode.fr]bagage Longchamp[/url] AyqKxk

Anonymous said...

blogging is getting more than volition besides boost your readers to turn back to your blog again and once again.
Golf is a biz where most citizenry suppose that beingness able-bodied the start.


my blog post click here