Running Form Drills: Easy as A, B, C

Look around at the start of your next road race: you'll see runners performing all sorts of odd-looking drills, skipping, hopping and shuffling down the street before the race begins.  What's the point?  Borrowed from the training routines of Olympic athletes, these form drills serve a variety of purposes, ranging from warming up and increasing range of motion to fine-tuning motor patterns that will help you run faster and more efficiently.


-This is an excerpt from my latest Canadian Running Magazine article (January/February 2012) called Easy as A, B, C - Improve efficiency with these form drills.

In the piece, I quote:

-Coach Wynn Gmitroski, lead coach at the National Athletics Centre in Victoria, BC

-Vancouver based distance runner Dylan Wykes

-Recently retired national 800m record holder Gary Reed

-Coach Dave Scott-Thomas, head coach of the University of Guelph and the Speed River Track and Field Club, Guelph, Ont.

Here are the videos of the drills to go along with the article:

Ankling Quick Feet Drill from Jon-Erik Kawamoto on Vimeo.

A-Skip Drill from Jon-Erik Kawamoto on Vimeo.


B-Skip Drill from Jon-Erik Kawamoto on Vimeo.


C-Skip Knee Down Drill from Jon-Erik Kawamoto on Vimeo.


C-Skip Knee Up Drill from Jon-Erik Kawamoto on Vimeo.

Thanks for reading,

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