For many people, running easily comes off as a “primal” form of exercise because our bodies have been evolutionarily-engineered to perform it over millenniums.
Instead of being a survival mechanism used to hunt woolly mammoths or flee Saber tooth tigers, running is a widespread hobby that has a community of millions around the world. The dawn of running as a competitive sport, seen in the Olympics, marathons, triathlons and more has peaked the public’s love of running even more making it set to become even more popular in the coming years.
If you’ve just started running, you’ve probably started working out more often and running a lot more because of how invigorating the feeling of improved cardio, weight loss, and a “Runner’s High” can all be. Whether you’re doing 5Ks, 21Ks, or even 42Ks, running will always prove to be an enjoyable experience that will keep you coming back for more, especially when you’re improving and breaking your own records!
Now that you’re improving in your running, most runners will start to dissect their performances and see where they may be able to both gain a competitive advantage and avoid injury. In the running community, a common question that is usually asked is “Should I start working on my mileage (training volume) or running technique when training for endurance?”.
Technique versus Training Volume
Admittedly, it can be quite confusing to decipher what specific aspect of running to focus on because both have their valid benefits on your endurance capacity.
With mileage or training volume, the premise for endurance training or running in its simplest context is fairly straightforward because of how more miles translates into a greater capacity for running longer distances. On the other hand, technique-related training also has its merit because of how the simplest tweaks will make a profound difference in the way you manage your running abilities.
Although mileage and technique have their respective advantages when it comes to endurance training, it’s safe to say that the latter must be prioritised for the best results!
What to know about good running technique
While it seems simple, running itself is a complicated series of movements taking place in the body so that it moves efficiently when walking, jogging, or sprinting. Since every body is made differently, what feels comfortable to one may not feel comfortable to another. There are certainly variances from one runner to the next, but there are also common technicalities that everyone shares.
Just like sports which have technical aspects that can be improved on and mastered, running also has its respective best practices and techniques. Unfortunately, most people overlook the need to foster good techniques and inadvertently injure themselves after striding wrong or making technical mistakes that build up over time.
Why should you pay attention to your technique?
Running is something you should be able to do for a lifetime. That being said, longevity is the name of the game if you want to stay healthier for much longer, and a good technique is paramount for a long life of pain-free striding.
The value of utilising the best techniques while running will make you far more economical in your mileage and therefore indirectly improve your training volume as well. At Invigor Health, we believe that the main value of fostering best practices also comes from the fact that it will help minimise injury risks in the long run, leading to better joints, tendon, and muscle health!
Conclusion
As enjoyable, liberating, and carefree as running can be, it’s also vital to take a more technical approach to things and dedicate time and effort to honing your technique. The aim of this guide is not to teach running technique but rather to outline the benefits of great running technique for a future of better performance and longevity.
At Invigor Health, we offer injury prevention physiotherapy in Sydney that helps all types of runners––no matter the skill level––refine their technique with quality treatments and consultations. Get in touch with us today to learn more about our services and schedule an appointment with an expert!