Arm Swing
In addition to running with good posture, it’s important to take note of how your arms swing and if you are rotating your torso. Too much rotation in your torso expends more energy. While a little swing in your arms is normal, make sure to hold your elbows at about a 90-degree angle and keep your hands and arms relaxed.Ground Contact
The next thing to focus on is contact time on the ground. The faster you run, the less time is spent in the stance phase. The less contact on the ground, the faster you can run. When running, aim for a shorter ground contact time.Also remember to run lightly. In a study done by researchers at Harvard Medical School that focused on impact loading, they found that runners who landed more lightly were injured less often.
Essentially, think of your running form like a fingerprint—it’s yours and yours alone. While you can focus on improving these key form points, understand that what works best for you is best to be strengthened rather than changed. By focusing on posture, arm swing, torso and ground contact time your form will naturally improve.
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