I started xc yesterday and my legs are killing me (they started hurting previously because I started running a few weeks ago). As I watched the other runners on my team, the kick their legs up almost to where they are touching their butts. I tried and it eased some of the pain but I got tired quicker. Why do they do this? Should this be done only during training?
Your leg motion depends on the speed you are running. If you look at sprinters they are basically kicking themselves in the rear. When you bring your leg forward and the knee is bent it makes the lever shorter so you can have a faster return. If the leg is straight then the lever is much longer and takes more time and effort to bring the leg forward into the touch down position. Your legs are sore because you are not conditioned to running fast. It is a matter of getting your muscles used to running and the exercise. Don’t worry about kicking yourself just run relaxed what you do should be a natural motion. Your foot should impact the ground only slightly in front of you coming rearward at the same speed you are moving forward. Running is a pushing motion not a pulling motion. If you contact the ground too far ahead it will tire out your quads very fast. Stand up straight relax your shoulders and arms, keep your elbows at 90 degrees and swing your arms straight front to back, not across your body. Do not let your elbows come out to the side they should be below your shoulders. It is important to be relaxed when running. Your stride length and motion will change as your speed changes.
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just run however it is most comfortable. when you are in a race it should come to you rather quickly.
References :
I believe that technique has to do with speed and length of movement. For example: If you kick back your legs while running and throw them forward, you end up further ahead.
Take a look at the following site. It may not tell you the why of the kick, but it does give great advice for beginners.
http://exercise.about.com/cs/running/a/begrunning.htm
References :
http://exercise.about.com/cs/running/a/begrunning.htm
Your leg motion depends on the speed you are running. If you look at sprinters they are basically kicking themselves in the rear. When you bring your leg forward and the knee is bent it makes the lever shorter so you can have a faster return. If the leg is straight then the lever is much longer and takes more time and effort to bring the leg forward into the touch down position. Your legs are sore because you are not conditioned to running fast. It is a matter of getting your muscles used to running and the exercise. Don’t worry about kicking yourself just run relaxed what you do should be a natural motion. Your foot should impact the ground only slightly in front of you coming rearward at the same speed you are moving forward. Running is a pushing motion not a pulling motion. If you contact the ground too far ahead it will tire out your quads very fast. Stand up straight relax your shoulders and arms, keep your elbows at 90 degrees and swing your arms straight front to back, not across your body. Do not let your elbows come out to the side they should be below your shoulders. It is important to be relaxed when running. Your stride length and motion will change as your speed changes.
References :