Running – the endurance sport for body and soul

This article was created editorially together with joggen-online. de Joggen Online is an extensive magazine about jogging as well as a search engine that combines hundreds of sports stores and thus facilitates the search for sporting goods.

Introduction

Running is the ideal sport for all age groups and for every budget, because it does not require expensive equipment and expensive accessories. Wearing a pair of running shoes and appropriate sportswear, running can be practiced anywhere and stimulates both body and mind. Just three 30-minute sessions a week are enough to significantly increase fitness within a short period of time, to train the cardiovascular system effectively, to strengthen the muscles and to increase physical resistance and performance.

In addition, the body burns more calories when running than in comparable sports. But regular exercise also has a positive effect on the ability to concentrate, memory and general mood. Running also reduces stress and improves sleep. But what is the best way to start running, where do I run, how fast and how long is it most effective and what else do I need to consider? These questions are answered in the following.

The right posture when running

All runners* develop their own unique running style over time. However, this style should be in line with basic technical standards, because optimal posture not only facilitates the flow of movement while running, but also increases speed and saves energy. For example, an upright posture should always be maintained while the arms swing loosely back and forth beside the body.

The swinging of the arms is a reflex that the body automatically performs to stabilize the posture. The runner(s)* just has to make sure to form a triangle between the torso, upper and lower arm when the arm swings backwards, because this increases the swing. In addition, excessively large steps should be avoided in order not to unintentionally slow down the body or waste energy.

Instead, it is advisable to place the foot only just in front of the body axis – this way the stride length is neither too long nor too short -, stretch the leg with each step and roll it over the whole foot. However, the correct posture when running can not only increase speed and conserve energy reserves, it also prevents back pain. In order to maintain an upright posture during the entire run, targeted additional training of the lower back and abdominal muscles is therefore beneficial, as both areas support the trunk. Regular ABC training helps to coordinate the movement sequences more easily and also to get rid of a long-cultivated false running style.