Running Drills


Crude AwakeningI’ve been wanting to post these running drills that I got out of Matt Fitzgerald’s “Brain Training for Runners” because I find extremely helpful. I’ll try to get some video on here later of what these look like, or at least look like in my head :) Technique drills help you work on a specific aspect of your running stride outside of normal running. Matt recommends doing two to three of these after each run, and that’s what I’ve found to be helpful since they really don’t take a lot of time.

1) Running with no arms

In this drill, lace your fingers together and make a big circle (like you do with your kids when you make an imaginary basketball hoop with your head being the back board). Then run 100 yards or so quickly, jog slowly back to the starting point, and repeat. Drill benefits: activates deep ab muscles so you run more with your abs, less with your hips; maintains upright posture; takes away shoulder rotation if you’re a runner that moves the upper body left and right as you run

2) Steep Hill Sprints

Spring a VERY steep hill for about 20 seconds. I’m talking 10-20% grade. Benefits: develops ballistic running / force skills; applies great force into the ground and helps drive the swing leg forward.

3) One-Leg Hop

Run/hop on one leg as fast as you can for 20 seconds. Jog back to the starting point and repeat. Benefits: increases push off power; enhances stability of hips, pelvis, lower spine, and knees on impact by challenging muscles that stabilize these joints.

4) High knees

Run with a fast cadence and a highly exaggerated knee lift (thighs parallel to ground) for 30 seconds, jog back to starting point, and repeat. Benefits: teaches you to drive swing leg and helps the thigh participate in driving force into the ground.

5) Bounding

Run with long, leaping strides (think triple jump in the olympics), continue for 30 seconds, jog back, and repeat. Benefits: enhances push off power and stability on impact; exaggerates overstriding, so helps teach you to begin retracting your leading leg before impact

6) Stiff Legged Running

Run briskly for 20 seconds with knees locked as much as you can. Benefits: emphasizes the butt for forward propulsion and not the hamstrings; teaches you to begin thrusting earlier and helps stiffen your stride.

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