3 ms·

I'm curious about the downvotes. Is it in poor taste to share personal experience? Perhaps I should clarify: I used to step too long while running, landing on

• notacoward 11y ago
  I think your comment is exactly what we need more of in this thread, because it represents the most common kind of experience. All of the data I've seen indicate that overstriding is the most common problem new runners face. This aligns well with my own experience talking to others about running. It comes up so often that I'd say it's the #1 thing separating those who stuck with it from those who didn't. When people first start to pick up speed, they naturally tend to increase stride before they increase tempo. I think it comes from their experience with walking. Whatever the reason, it turns out to be a dangerous tendency that even runners far more experienced than me have to fight sometimes (and some lose). As more people hear that, fewer will become injured or discouraged. Hearing it from people who they can identify with, who haven't been elite athletes since junior high, is most helpful.