How should my arms be?

S

sparrow

Guest
I have been running a really long time and competitively running for the past year. I was running in front of a friend about a week ago and she said "you waste so much energy the way you run" meaning my arms were pretty high as they pumped with my strides. My elbow is basically at a right angle. This is how I've always run. I carry a lot of muscle in my upper body and I never feel like my arms are tired or that carrying them higher has a negative influence on my energy...but maybe it does?

She showed me how she runs (shes a marathoner) which was with her hands basically way down by her hips, shoulders back elbows pumping backwards..and actually she doesn't have a ton of movement in her arms as she runs. okay, so it looked strange to me..but she IS successful at what she does. She told me to invision a piece of chalk in each hand drawing a straight line forward at my hip level. Is this correct? Is my way wrong?
 
I am not a runner, I am a cyclist but my same philosphy would apply. I would never offer unsolicited advice to another successful cyclist unless he/she was obviously distressing or at risk of injury.

There are all kinds of people out there and some differ in their approaches and philosphies.

I remember coaches telling Michael Johnson that he was running way too upright and his arms were flailing and he did okay. (He held or holds the world records in the 200 and 400).

If you are comfortable and strong as is, I wouldn't change a thing. I'm assuming you don't have a coach. If a coach told you otherwise, then I would heed that, obviously.

2 cents
 
From what I have read this is the most common:

Try to focus on swinging your arms forward, but keep movement in your lower arms to keep your muscles loose. Your elbows should be bent about 90 to 110 degrees and keep your hands loosely cupped. Don't clinch your thumb in your hand, but rather place it on top of your index finger. Your arm movement should be rhythmic and easy. Your hands should stop at the midline of your torso.
 
ah then it really sounds like the way I'm doing it is ok. And it does work for me..so I should just go with it. I've tried it her way and I get MORE tired and frustrated, for sure.
 
I think you should run in a way you are most comfortable and the way you feel most natural. Remember the three simple rules of running:

Run Tall
Run Relaxed
Run Naturally

If you are running in a way you don't feel natural, it's just going to hurt you more than help you.
 
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