Yesterday, we talked a little bit about the importance of adjusting to the demands of a triathlon training regimen. You can’t just be an expert at a single facet of the race; you need to embrace each component in order to reach your utmost abilities.
While the advice we related focused specifically on achieving a balance in your activities, each specific leg of the race also requires a certain degree of attention. If you’re a swimmer or a cyclist at heart, for instance, then you’ll need to know how to improve your running form.
That’s why today we’re relating some tips on hand from a new report out of Europe. In it, advice is available that highlights how to make sure a training regimen is acceptable both in terms of improving speed and distance and in preventing the types of injuries that can derail a triathlon long before the race even begins.
One of the first things you’ll want to do is make sure that your motions are acceptable and aren’t putting you at an immediate disadvantage. If you’ve always thought of yourself as more of a cyclist or a swimmer, then you may be pumping your legs in a manner that does your body a disservice.
Rather than landing your feet on their toes or on their heels, which that can end up causing overexertion and create excessive impact damage to your body, try to bring your foot down right in the center. And instead of stooping your head down low while you’re embarking on your run, lift your chin up and strive to keep your back as straight as possible. You’ll probably never reach a true 90 degree mark, but even without your back ramrod straight, you’ll be able to better draw in breath and develop muscle definition through your gut. Positioning yourself in this manner also helps you to move your legs in an optimal manner rather than over- or under-extending.
As you get further and further into your run, you may find that you start to lean one way or another or weave back and forth. Your getting tired, and that’s when your motions will lag. When you notice yourself doing this, make a conscious effort to center your body as you move. If this is a serious problem, you can even engage in pre-run training that improves balance and strength, helping you to stay on the straight and narrow while you’re in the on-foot portion of the big race.
For more insights on improving the running portion of the triathlon, follow the link above.