Forum: sports.stackexchange.com
Tags: <running><technique>
Title: How can I tell if I'm running properly
Question: I have about 6 months running regularly, about 1–2 times per week. Today I ran 14 km (about 8 miles) — a milestone for me!  I feel great and I don't want to stop, but I don't know if I'm doing properly or not.  I don't want to get injured or something just for not asking.   How can I tell if my running technique is correct?

Answers:
sents: text: Chris McDougal , author of Born to Run, a book that will make you want to go run immediately and properly, “Imagine your kid is running into the street and you have to sprint after her in bare feet.
text: You’d automatically lock into perfect form —
text: you’d be up on your forefeet, with your back erect, head steady, arms high, elbows driving, and feet touching down quickly on the forefoot and kicking back toward your butt.”
text: And further, I hope this article will give lots of knowledge about running properly .
answer_details: author: sports.stackexchange.com/users/174/Vijin Paulraj
score: 17
sents: text: First of all congratulations with your milestone!
text: It feels great to be running.
text: If you have 6 months of running in your legs now, you probably don't have the worst technique, because then you would have been injured already :=)
text: If you haven't done so much running in your life before, and never played any sports like football, I think I would have focused on other things before landing on your forefoot.
text: Focus rather on landing your feet at the center of your gravity and running relaxed with a slightly lean-forward angle.
text: (Over focusing on forefeet landing almost killed my legs)
text: Here is a good video of a guy who improves his technique.
text: The most important thing is that you don't skip your running exercises, regardless of technique!
answer_details: author: sports.stackexchange.com/users/176/Martin
score: 13
sents: text: People often forget that running correctly, is actually quite hard.
text: Most people that ran a lot during childhood, get it more or less right, but if your the type that never really has run a lot, some instruction can be very helpful.
text: Internet guides, articles and so on, are good, but I would probably look to your local atletic club where they have competition +800 meter runners and get some lessons there.
text: You don't have to join the club, but get 3-4 lessons, come back in some months and get some follow-up lessons.
answer_details: author: sports.stackexchange.com/users/4880/Thorst
score: 3
sents: text: A very good video that explains in detail a good posture in running:
text: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx6x2cD6Y8Q .
text: I used it myself to improve my technique.
text: You'll find in there all the key elements.
text: Of course, if you go for trail running, things complicate a little bit.
answer_details: author: sports.stackexchange.com/users/989/Adrian Ber
score: 2
sents: text: Responding to several of the answers here: running barefoot may be a fad - and may even work for some minority of the population - but one should be careful and informed if inclined to attempt it.
text: Careful studies have shown downsides to running barefoot in terms of sacrificing speed/performance and distribution of stress on the foot.
text: An alternative may be to wear rather minimalistic shoes.
text: How minimalistic you may go would be very specific to you/your feet.
text: Consider that having slightly more weight but having the support you really need will go a long way towards avoiding injuries.
text: As far as your form: it would make sense to be evaluated by a running coach.
text: They can give you tips on areas you might be able to tweak.
answer_details: author: sports.stackexchange.com/users/1341/javadba
score: 2

Summary of the answers:
S2: Internet guides, articles and so on, are good, but it is probably a good idea to look to your local atletic club where they have competition +800 meter runners and get some lessons there. When running, it is good to focus rather on landing your feet at the center of your gravity and running relaxed with a slightly lean-forward angle. However, the most important thing is not skipping your running exercises, regardless of technique!
Landing at your center of gravity and adopting a forward angle while running are key to improving your technique. However, regular practice is perhaps more important than form. You are advised to take some running lessons, possibly at a local club.