Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Running Technique: The Role of Hamstrings in Running
In the Pose Method there is a need to develop stronger hamstrings. What are hamstrings normally used for? While the quads support our body-weight, our hamstrings help us break free from the pull of gravity. When we increase our cadence to 180 or more strides per minute we need hamstrings that are capable of quickly pulling the foot from the ground. However, larger and stronger muscles, trained in static conditions in the gym, do not necessarily translate to better performance when running. The key to developing great hamstrings is performing dynamic drills in order to train the hamstrings.
Some excellent drills are foot tapping and front lunge. Try these drills with stretch cords to increase resistance. The key use of our hamstrings in running is to be able to quickly pull the support foot from the ground.
