If your joints are well aligned and you don’t have a tight muscle in your body, or if running feels effortless to you and you have never experienced a running injury, then the chances are that you have good running form. But for the rest of us, good running technique may have to be learnt.

If any of the following apply, this article is for you:
- You have just begun running and are finding it quite difficult
- You think your running may benefit from a particular running method
- You have encountered running injuries
- You want to improve your running performance but have increased your pace, distance and duration as much as you can.

There are two ways to adjust your running form:
1. Focus on correct body alignment, good muscle balance and core stability, making posture and footfall checks throughout each run to ensure good form.
2. Adapt a specific running ‘method’ that may help you to improve your running technique.

Traditionally, a typical running method has been that of a heel-toe footfall, aiming to achieve the following:
- Running more frequently or longer distances to build up running strength
- Increasing pace or speed
- Trying to gain more running power, speed, strength and-or endurance.

Although not specifically a running ‘method’, this type of training is known as power running, and is the way that most runners train and run, based upon the rule of overload:
Run faster, longer or more frequently – create a training effect.

This is fine as long as the following principles are taken into consideration:
- Over-training does not occur
- Recovery is adequate
- Quality of running is placed above quantity.

There are alternative ways of achieving your running goals whilst potentially making running easier and improving your technique at the same time. However, re-learning your running style is very difficult, and some coaches believe it can be impossible.

Related posts:

1. Best Running Tips Advice on Tempo Running

2. Running to Suit You – Sprints and Speed Training

3. Running Schedule – First 10 week Schedule

4. Running Tips for Beginners – Breathing and Re-hydrate

5. How to Progress Your Running to the Next Level

6. The Basics of Running Training – Long Runs

7. Fartlek Training for Running

8. Running Guide – How Fast to Run

9. Benefits of Running Different Route

10. How to Build a Running Habit