We've all hear the saying "When your legs get tired, run with your heart" ( or something like that). As inspirational as this sounds, I found running with another "H" word to be more helpful.
The position of your Hands really does make a difference in your running performance.
Here are just a few tips.
1. Run with your arms/hands CLOSE to your body.
2. Make sure your arms are swinging with your body and not against it. What we mean by this is when you are moving your arms to run, your hands/arms should never cross your body. You pick up more momentum when you are moving your arms from front to back.
(Random Story: when I was in High school there was a girl in my class that would move her arms from side to side when she would run. She almost looked like a wind up robot. Of course our PE teacher never told us about good running form back then, but I always thought "That can't be right".)
3. How you hold your hands can make a difference too. When most people are starting out running they will normally run with their hands in a fist. Don't do that. This can cause your shoulders to tense up.
Instead, slightly cup your hands almost as if you were holding an egg in each one.
4. Keep moving your arms. I notice that when my legs start to slow down, I move my arms faster and faster and that helps me to stay on pace.
5. Sometimes holding a hand held water bottle can help train your hands to stay in that position as you run.
6. Make sure to keep this form if you are doing run/walk intervals too. Often times we will see people who's arms/hands look like rag dolls when they are on their walk intervals. Don't let your arms just hang down because you are walking. Better arm and hand movement will speed your walk breaks as well.
So next time you go out on a run, notice how you position your arms and make them an integral part of your run.
Do you have any arm/hand tips when it comes to running?