RUNNING INTO A HEADWIND

Runners look as if they are running into a stiff headwind.
They have an excessive forward-lean and suffer from late full-foot
contact (when the center of the knee is in front of the center of
ankle when a foot fully contacts the ground). This often results
in a short and choppy stride. Runners usually end up this way by
incorrectly attempting the Pose Method or similar approaches
that encourage a mild forward lean. Leaning too far forward is
problematic because it shifts the center of mass out in front of the
runner and places excessive loads on the front of the knees. What
does this mean for the knees? Simply put, it’s like running downhill
all the time -- even on flat ground. The forward lean also contributes
to hitting the ground too hard (further aggravating any of the lower
body injuries).
Injuries commonly associated with this running into a headwind
style include: patellofemoral pain syndrome, patellar tendonitis,
shin splints, plantar fasciitis and tender Achilles heal.
Of all the faulty gait patterns, Pattern Two has the biggest effect
on performance. Leaning too far forward restricts arm motion
(thereby restricting leg motion) and also misplaces the center of a
runner’s stride. All of these problems limit the amount of “drive”
that a runner can put into each stride. Straighten up, soldier and
run lightly.
They have an excessive forward-lean and suffer from late full-foot
contact (when the center of the knee is in front of the center of
ankle when a foot fully contacts the ground). This often results
in a short and choppy stride. Runners usually end up this way by
incorrectly attempting the Pose Method or similar approaches
that encourage a mild forward lean. Leaning too far forward is
problematic because it shifts the center of mass out in front of the
runner and places excessive loads on the front of the knees. What
does this mean for the knees? Simply put, it’s like running downhill
all the time -- even on flat ground. The forward lean also contributes
to hitting the ground too hard (further aggravating any of the lower
body injuries).
Injuries commonly associated with this running into a headwind
style include: patellofemoral pain syndrome, patellar tendonitis,
shin splints, plantar fasciitis and tender Achilles heal.
Of all the faulty gait patterns, Pattern Two has the biggest effect
on performance. Leaning too far forward restricts arm motion
(thereby restricting leg motion) and also misplaces the center of a
runner’s stride. All of these problems limit the amount of “drive”
that a runner can put into each stride. Straighten up, soldier and
run lightly.