Should I Work on My Running Technique?
Should I work on my running technique? Most runners do not have good running technique, although not everyone pays the same price for running with bad technique. I ran injury-free with terrible technique for decades. Eventually, the accumulated stress on my body resulted in a lot of injuries. Some people will start getting injured very quickly when they start running. Unfortunately, in my experience, there are very few people who are interested in improving their running technique just to be better at running. Had I known anything about running technique prior to my injuries, I’m not sure that I would have been interested in improving my technique. At the very least, I would not have been as motivated to fix my technical issues. Most people are just not invested enough in running to do the work necessary to achieve results. Fair enough, it’s appearently easier to try preventing running injuries by buying a new pair of running shoes. If new shoes don’t work, usually most people just end up quitting.
So the question remains, “Should I work on my running technique?” In my opinion here are the reasons why you should work on your running technique.
You’re serious about achieving your potential as a runner
You’re experiencing pain when running or as a result of running
You’re regularly getting the same injuries from running
You’re Serious About Achieving Your Potential as a Runner
As an athlete, if you want to achieve your full potential, you need to work on perfecting the efficiency and power of your movements. Running is no different. Gravity works the same on everyone, and everyone must do the same things with the movements of their body to move efficiently and effectively within the Earth’s gravitational field.
You’re Experiencing Pain When Running or as a Result of Running
Pain, as opposed to discomfort, is an indication that you are injured or that you are about to injure yourself. Injury is usually the result of stressing your body with inefficient running technique that increases the physical stress on your body. If you continue to run, without correcting your technique, the pain will almost never go away on its own. You can try to compensate by buying new running shoes or with orthodontics, but that will probably only work for a short time if it works at all.
You’re regularly getting the same injuries from running
If you getting the same recurring injury, again there is a problem with your technique. For example, if you are falling into a pattern of pulling a muscle, resting until it heals, and then pulling it again once you start training regularly, then you something is wrong with your technique. You can try to compensate by improving strength and flexibility. Occasionally doing this will help, if it does fine, but if not, then you will need to improve your technique, or live with a reoccurring injury, or quit.
Summary
If you are having problems with injuries from running and you wish to continue running, you should consider working on your running technique. If you aren’t having issues with running injury, but you wish to reach your full potential as a runner, you should consider, at the very least, having your technique evaluated, and if there are issues, consider working on them. There are online resources and books to help you to fix your technique on your own, but for most people, the best results will be achieved by working with a coach. You can contact me for coaching.
