For many beginner runners, the overwhelming amount of technical and scientific information available to help you improve your running can actually become very confusing or off-putting. If you want to improve your running technique but aren’t sure where to start, then here are five quick and easy ways to improve your running.
It’s All In The Head
When we think about how we could potentially improve our running techniques, most people only focus on the physical aspects of running, but there is a large mental effort required to run as well. Research has shown that improving your mental agility can actually help to improve your running and help you to run faster for longer. It’s not difficult either. A few minutes a day spent practicing mental exercises such as riddles or meditation can help to improve your mental agility and health, plus there are plenty of fun websites such as examinedexistence.com that provide inspiration.
Find The Right Shoes
Beginners to running may not be aware that the type of shoe you use can have a huge impact on your running. Many of us think that so long as we have a decent pair of running trainers, we should be good to go, and this is true to a certain extent. But if you really want to improve your running, investing in the right pair of trainers for you is vital. It is best to go to a specialist shop to be fitted and find out your needs, as they will be able to help find you the right shoe to make sure you can run for longer with the least amount of damage to your body.
Breathe Right
Breathing properly is a very important part of effective running. However, it can be all too easy to slip into bad habits. But this can all be fixed by altering your routine. So, next time you run, try inhaling for three steps, exhaling for two, making sure to inhale and exhale smoothly through both your nose and your mouth. This should help you to ensure that you are getting enough oxygen and are not tiring your lungs out too much. Of course, you always need to make sure that your lungs are kept healthy, as if they’re not, it could affect your breathing and general health going forward. If you have any worries about your breathing and the health of your lungs, you may need to schedule an appointment with an pulmonologist in order to this area of your health, which can contribute to your running patterns too. Don’t forget you can even practice breathing exercises at home to help improve your performance.
Don’t Forget Your Posture
In the heat of the moment, many people forget how important it is to maintain good posture while running. For the average person, good posture doesn’t come naturally. Our lifestyles mostly involve sitting behind desks and slouching in chairs, none of which is conducive to proper healthy posture. So, it’s important to make sure you put some effort into your posture while running by keeping your spine straight and shoulders back, with your body stable but relaxed. Remember, your legs should be doing most of the work, so you don’t need to be hunched over or swinging your arms around violently, as this can lead to injury. For improving your posture, you may want to exercise your core muscles to gradually strengthen them up. Additionally, investing into a quality footwear may help in maintaining alignment and posture of the body. Further, you can choose to get a swedish massage in Pflugerville, TX or some other places which can relieve tightness in muscles, thereby allowing for better positioning of the body.
Remember To Hydrate
Possibly the most important tip for improving your running is to make sure you are getting enough water. Not only will water refresh and cool you down, but it also increases your metabolism and reduces the likelihood that you will develop a stitch.