With Coach Tim, Online Running Coach for We Run and the We Run Virtual Running Club
The shape you draw with your body when you run is a great way to look at running form. Is it smooth or more jagged? Is it symmetrical? What parts of the body are moving more? It all tells a fascinating story about how you run!
The Overall Running Shape You Draw
When I analyse someone’s running the first thing I do is to look at their overall shape, ideally from the side. You get a great picture of form, posture, which parts of the body are moving and which aren’t.
First of all I look at your shape as you push off with your back leg. Ideally there should be a nice gently curving line from your ankle, through the knee, hip, shoulder and finishing in your ear! Your leg is extending behind you from the hip, the knee is straight and the ankle is pushing you off. The body is leaning forwards slightly (but not hinging at the hips) and the head is in line with the spine.
I can see at this stage whether the front shin in parallel with the back leg, that’s a hint of what might happen when you land on that front leg later in the stride.
I also look at where you are looking and whether your shoulders are held high or relaxed.
Symmetry In Your Running Form
I also find symmetry in a runner fascinating and revealing and this is best viewed from the front or the back.
Is the runners movement the same on either side, or is one side doing something slightly different to the other? Any imbalances often tie in with injuries, past, future and present.
Drawing a centre line on a runner and watching how close their arms and legs move to that centre line reveals a lot about balance and any “lost” energy that isn’t going into driving you forwards. Anything that completely crosses that centre line is something to really focus in on, be that a hand or a foot. Does the spine stay in line with the centre line? That tells me a lot about balance and stability.
Summary Tips
- The shape your body draws when you run can tell a story about your running form
- Looking for which parts of your body are moving more and which are stable is useful
- Seeing how your torso and head are positioned and move gives us great information on posture
- Symmetry can hint to us about injuries, past, present and future
Quick Tip
- Try rolling your shoulders up, back and down as you run to reset your shape, improve breathing, unleash speed and relieve the back muscles
