856-448-4196
Back
, , , ,

I Need to Get Faster: Improving Running Mechanics

Sprint Mechanics, Sports Performance, Sports Coach, Fitness, Hockey, Speed

I Need to Get Faster: Improving Running Mechanics

 

Strong and Stable Ankles, Hips, and Knees

For athletes, having a strong foundation is crucial. Unstable ankles, knees, and hips can lead to serious injuries such as ACL or LCL tears, twisted ankles, or awkward landings. Building stability and strength in these joints is essential for preventing injury and enhancing performance.

Running Mechanics: How Am I Running?

To maximize your running efficiency, push off with your toes and strike the ground with your midfoot, not your heel. Heel striking can slow you down and increase the risk of injury by failing to absorb the ground’s impact effectively. Your toes and midfoot act as a “spring,” propelling you forward into the next step. Heel contact, on the other hand, disrupts momentum and can lead to shin splints by transferring force up the foot and into the shin.

Heel Strike or Foot Strike: What’s the Right Way?

Research indicates that heel striking is more energy-efficient for athletes running at slower to moderate speeds. However, for those aiming to increase speed and explosiveness, foot striking is more effective. Foot striking reduces ground contact time, leading to quicker reaction times and faster speeds.

Bringing It All Together

Becoming a faster athlete involves multiple factors: running mechanics, foot speed, mobility, and stability. Each of these elements plays a critical role in improving overall speed. Whether your goal is to enhance speed or agility, focusing on controlling your movements, mastering the hip hinge, and maintaining strength and stability will be key to optimizing performance and reducing the risk of injury.

 

#unleashthepotential

Written by:

Darrid Watson, CSCS, NSCA-CPT

 

 

Take action… Now!

Name(Required)
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Training Aspects Personal Training and Sports Performance:

Visit us: Inside of the Flyers Training Center 601 Laurel Oak Rd. Voorhees, NJ 08043

Recent posts
  • Elite Sprint Transitions for Speed and Explosiveness
    Cherry Hill sports performance, Hockey Performance, Personal trainer tips, Sports performance
    Elite Sprint Transitions for Speed and Explosiveness

    Elite Sprint Transitions for Speed and Explosiveness   Transitions are usually one of the most poorly performed athletic movements we see by new athletes. The loading mechanics and how they absorb into the transitions is usually way off. The main reason for this is typically they are just never taught properly! Today we’ll break down…

    Jostr1
  • Are You Working Out or Training? How to Maximize Your Gains
    Cherry Hill sports performance, Fit and healthy, Fitness and Nutrition News in South Jersey area, Hockey Performance, Personal trainer tips, Sports performance, The scoop in all, Weight Loss
    Are You Working Out or Training? How to Maximize Your Gains

    When it comes to fitness, there’s a significant distinction between training and simply working out. Understanding this difference can transform your approach to exercise and lead to better results. Working Out: Putting Exercises Together Are you doing exercises because you saw them on social media, or do you have a deeper understanding of why you’re…

    BangD
  • The Pistol squat, the little secret to get the upper hand
    Cherry Hill sports performance, Hockey Performance, Sports performance
    The Pistol squat, the little secret to get the upper hand

    The Secret youth athlete Exercise for Success “The legs feed the wolf!” The largest muscle groups are located in the lower half of the body, so it would seem to be common sense to train the legs. Squats, deadlifts, lunges, leg presses, and leg extensions are often the most popular exercises for working the legs.…

    Kirill Vaks
Subscribe to our newsletter
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.