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"How should I run" is a question that can only be asked by someone who doesn't run much. That sounds flip and snarky, so let me frame it in a personal way ...

by rsync 12y ago

"How should I run" is a question that can only be asked by someone who doesn't run much. That sounds flip and snarky, so let me frame it in a personal way ... Years ago, when I started my martial arts training, I naturally asked a teacher about some details / techniques of a certain kick. He said "do that kick 5000 more times and then ask me that". So I did. And I had no questions to ask about it. That's the beauty of your brain and body interface - you have a built-in mechanism for stripping away extraneous movements and inefficiencies and honing a physical act to the most efficient movement available. It just happens. So when I hear people talk about fine details of running technique, I say "run 1000 miles and then revisit those questions". Pro tip: when your body is most tired is when you'll find the movements that are least important. When you are close to exhaustion, you won't have the extra elevation or the extraneous movement or the inefficient motions - you'll find the path of least effort. So in addition to running those 1000 miles, run some of them until you're very tired.

jonahx 12y ago
This seems like dangerous advice -- the flip side of this auto-correct-by-experience coin is creating entrenched bad habits. As a common example, take posture: "Just stand up and walk around 5000 times and then ask me what correct posture is." Yet the majority of people have problematic posture, both when standing and when sitting, despite a lifetime of practice. While there probably are examples where your martial arts teacher's advice makes sense, in my personal experience it seems wrong for most physical movements (walking, weight lifting technique, posture, dancing, etc).
- jimmaswell 12y ago
  Very dangerous for musical playing - bad playing movements can lead to carpal tunnel and such
- Detrus 12y ago
  My personal experience as well. I squatted for years and the secrets of perfect form eluded me. I had anterior pelvic tilt. Certain muscles were tight, others underdeveloped and correcting the issue was very tricky. The advice may work for people who are generally physically active, as their muscles won't be out of balance from sitting.
lightcatcher 12y ago
Middle distance runner here, disagree with most of this. I agree that there's not much point for a beginner runner to worry too much about form. However, simply running a lot does not give most people efficient form (it does prevent them from having horrible form, but doesn't force them to have good form). I have a friend who has been running 60-70 miles/week for a few years, and his form is still quite poor (and this limits his speed for middle distance races). Also, I don't have a source to reference, but I do not believe your "pro tip" at all. I'm quite sure running efficiency goes down as fatigue increases. Common advice is to focus on your form when you start to fatigue, because this helps you keep efficiency up. Finally, I doubt any of the "elite" runners referenced in that video have the form they have just by running a lot of miles. Running efficiency is something to think about and to work towards, not to just acquire by running a lot (of course, running a lot helps).
burkaman 12y ago
All of this comment is wrong, but I think the "pro tip" is especially important to correct. When you're close to exhaustion is when you most need to think about form, because the easiest default motions are not the most efficient. You'll find the path of least mental effort, not physical effort, and it'll cost you a lot.

by rsync 12y ago

jonahx 12y ago

This seems like dangerous advice -- the flip side of this auto-correct-by-experience coin is creating entrenched bad habits. As a common example, take posture: "Just stand up and walk around 5000 times and then ask me what correct posture is." Yet the majority of people have problematic posture, both when standing and when sitting, despite a lifetime of practice. While there probably are examples where your martial arts teacher's advice makes sense, in my personal experience it seems wrong for most physical movements (walking, weight lifting technique, posture, dancing, etc).

jimmaswell 12y ago
Very dangerous for musical playing - bad playing movements can lead to carpal tunnel and such
Detrus 12y ago
My personal experience as well. I squatted for years and the secrets of perfect form eluded me. I had anterior pelvic tilt. Certain muscles were tight, others underdeveloped and correcting the issue was very tricky. The advice may work for people who are generally physically active, as their muscles won't be out of balance from sitting.

lightcatcher 12y ago

Middle distance runner here, disagree with most of this. I agree that there's not much point for a beginner runner to worry too much about form. However, simply running a lot does not give most people efficient form (it does prevent them from having horrible form, but doesn't force them to have good form). I have a friend who has been running 60-70 miles/week for a few years, and his form is still quite poor (and this limits his speed for middle distance races). Also, I don't have a source to reference, but I do not believe your "pro tip" at all. I'm quite sure running efficiency goes down as fatigue increases. Common advice is to focus on your form when you start to fatigue, because this helps you keep efficiency up. Finally, I doubt any of the "elite" runners referenced in that video have the form they have just by running a lot of miles. Running efficiency is something to think about and to work towards, not to just acquire by running a lot (of course, running a lot helps).

burkaman 12y ago

All of this comment is wrong, but I think the "pro tip" is especially important to correct. When you're close to exhaustion is when you most need to think about form, because the easiest default motions are not the most efficient. You'll find the path of least mental effort, not physical effort, and it'll cost you a lot.