Running Stride

There is no optimal stride that works for every runner. Your optimal stride is going to be one-of-a-kind because your body is unique. Maybe you have wide hips and short legs; maybe you have a short Achilles tendon or inflexibility in your back that prevents a full range of motion. Either way, your stride is never going to look the same as that of your running partner or any of the elites you see on TV. That’s perfectly fine—embrace it!

Posture & Alignment

Each element of your running form influences the other, but your posture holds it all together and affects every aspect.

In addition to posture, your rotational alignment is a critical piece of your running form. Rotational alignment refers to how your hips rotate with each stride. As your right leg moves forward, your hips will naturally rotate slightly to the right as your left arm comes forward to counterbalance. As you bring your right leg back and your left leg forward, your hips will rotate, again.

Technique Drills

In short, technique drills are quick exercises designed to hone the individual elements of proper running form. Just as a pianist’s fingers move thoughtlessly across a keyboard to play a song he’s practiced over and over again, these drills can help our bodies commit to memory the movements that are critical to a fundamentally sound run.