I am NOT a runner. In fact I was always told not to run because of a lovely degenerative cartilage disorder in my knees. With that said I do enjoy jogging. I’ve always loved hikes and quiet walks and now that I have two kiddos at home I love popping both of them in the jogging stroller and having a little me time. This past weekend I completed my second fun run with Disney. If you haven’t done a Run Disney event it is definitely something that should make your Disney bucket list. There is just something so magical and motivating running through the parks while cast members and characters cheer you on.
Before our early morning run (6:15 run time) we had a very informative session with the great people at New Balance. We learned all about their partners in healthy running, Good Form Running. It’s all about making running less-painful and more enjoyable. This is something that rang true to me. Through these 4 steps to Good Form Running you should reduce the strain on your body while running and lessen the chance of an injury.
photo credit: @hyku
Here’s a little bit about Good Form Running. You can find out more on the New Balance site or Download the Free App.
Step 1: Posture
The foundation to good run form is posture. A properly aligned upper body conserves energy for the real power house in the legs. To find your perfect run posture stand with knees slightly bent, raise your hands above your head elongating your body, bring your arms down to your side while keeping everything else in place.
Step 2: Midfoot
Landing on the mid foot is key to preventing injury and reducing strain on your knee. This step works hand in hand with the others to produce forward momentum of the body. To find your mid foot stride march in place taking care for each step to land below you. Resist reaching forward with your foot, this causes you to land on the heel and act as a brake.
Step 3: Cadence
Cadence is often the biggest step for most people. The ideal cadence is 180 steps per minute. A higher cadence works with the other elements to conserve energy and prevent you from over striding, slowing you down. Finding a tempo encourages a lighter run helping to prevent injury.
Step 4: Lean
We know that reaching with the feet acts as a brake and uses more energy. Instead leaning forward allows the body to propel forward. Use gravity at your advantage to reduce muscle strain.
Now that you have the basics for Good Form Running you’ll need some awesome shoes to provide you with good support and a great accessory for your Disney Run. Checkout the new line of Run Disney shoes from New Balance. I got to see them in person and they are absolutely adorable. The Cinderella shoes even have cute little satin laces and the Minnie ones have a bow accent.
