Tight, compact running?

[Abide]

What do people mean when they say this? Does anyone have a video of someone who doesn't run this way?

 

[jschwab]

I have also heard "running in

I have also heard "running in a box" - isn't this just a way of thinking about not overstriding and not moving the arms side to side?

 

[Barefoot TJ]

I used to see this guy when I

I used to see this guy when I was out running who really swung his arms crazy. He mostly swung one more than the other though. I always thought, "That guy needs to work on his form." Then once, when he passed me in the opposite direction, I could hear him counting his cadence under his breath. Ha!

 

[Abide]

I see a guy like that

I see a guy like that regularly too. If you saw him walking you would have no idea he runs with such weird form. It looks so painful when he does it.

Janine do you mean like swingin away from your body?

 

[jschwab]

I think it's just alot more

I think it's just alot more efficient to run with your arms pumping forward and back rather than side to side.

 

[Barefoot TJ]

Oh, definitely.  You want

Oh, definitely. You want your arms to swing forward and back, in the same direction you intend to go, forward. We don't want to go sideways. Swinging our arms sideways wastes energy and slows us down.

 

[Abide]

Unless you are trying to take

Unless you are trying to take off

 

[Phil Hart]

...and boy, are my arms

...and boy, are my arms tired!