Neuromuscular Adaptation

The other week in Kalmar, my mother had a book about running form, which reminded me to keep my upper body relaxed and my shoulders down while running. All good advice. In general, though, I am a strong believer in natural optimization rather than conscious correction. In my view, thinking too much about your form can disrupt your natural biomechanics and actually increase the risk of injury.

From a motor learning perspective, external cues or task-based challenges, like terrain or speed, are often more effective than internal cues when it comes to improving complex movements like running. One way of working with, rather than against, your body is to run fast intervals, for instance on a treadmill. High-speed running tends to automatically reinforce proper mechanics: shorter ground contact time, higher cadence, improved posture, and reduced overstriding – all hallmarks of efficient form and, ultimately, better running economy.

More than form, however, being able to run faster is obviously mostly about aerobic base building, and for that, nothing beats some good old LSD. Still, to shake things up, I sometimes do a few tempo runs, probably more to improve mental toughness than anything else, but hopefully also to boost speed and endurance. This morning, I did just that in my Salomon Pulsar Trail Pro 2s, passing a deer with a couple of her babies (who hesitated before daring the jump across a stream), and returning home completely drenched, as the summer heat still holds its grip on Gothenburg.