Running well
Physical Education · Early Years · The School
More than just legs
Running uses your whole body. Your legs move. But your arms matter too. Your eyes matter too. Fast legs alone are not the whole story, even though they feel like the main part.
Pumping your arms
Bend your elbows. Swing your arms back and forth as you run, not side to side. Your arms help drive your legs. Try running with your arms held stiff by your sides instead, just for a moment. Notice how much harder it feels, right away.
Looking ahead
Keep your eyes looking ahead, not down at your feet. Looking ahead helps you run in a straight line. It helps you spot things in your way too, in plenty of time to react.
Run a short distance with your arms held stiff by your sides, and your eyes looking down at your feet the whole way. Notice how that feels. Now run the very same distance again. This time, pump your arms and look straight ahead. Most people feel faster and steadier the second way, even though their legs did exactly the same work both times. One small change, in just two parts of the body, made a real difference to the whole run.