Avoid the Shoulder Hunch

Ditch the tension and hunching of your shoulders to foster a taller, more productive posture. You can think about pulling your shoulder blades down and back–do this often as a reminder to yourself. If, after a few minutes of running, you notice that your shoulders have crept up in a shrug or they just feel tight, this note is for you! 

On the other extreme, avoid shoulder slouching. Your arms shouldn’t be dangling by your sides, but they should be held at a controlled 90-degree angle. This puts just the right amount of tension on your upper back. More on that next!

Propel Forward with a Good Arm Swing

Your arms aren’t just along for the ride! They serve a great purpose in helping propel your body forward. Pay attention to the path your arms travel as you run. Do they swing straight back and forth, or are they crossing in front of your body?

If you fall into the latter camp, then you’re likely wasting energy and force in your arm swing. Instead of creating momentum to move forward, you’re creating little tiny rotational movements with every swing and step. Not only does this not help you maintain forward motion, but your core and obliques have to fight this rotation and you might find yourself tuckering out sooner than you want.