Half Marathon Running Techniques : The Stride

When you run a half marathon you want your effort to be efficient.  So when you are training you have to learn how to resist fatigue. One of the best ways to make your run more efficient is my concentrating on your stride.

Here are a few things you can do…

1. When you stand and you begin to lean forward you will find that gravity will start to pull you down. So lean forward you begin to fall then put your left or right foot out to prevent you from falling. You should try maintain this lean, do not attempt to take giant strides when you are running your half marathon. Short baby steps like a little piston is the best way to run.

2. Head position - As you achieve the position mentioned above you should maintain your head in the middle and lean it slightly forward too. Keep your eye focus ahead of you and carry your arms comfortably. Most runner tend to swing their arms across when they run. That is not efficient because it pulls you from one side to the other. You want to get to the point where you drive your right arm forward and your left leg at the same time.

3. Hand Position - You can learn how to position your hands by wearing gloves. As you run you want to be able to see each gloved hand with each arm movement. This will help you master the technique of using your arms to drive forward as you run.

In all this do not forget to breath. This is one of the most important things you should do when you are running.  The form described above is the relaxed natural form for running. Do not try to struggle and get to the end to the finish line. Relax your stride and enjoy the moment.

**See the right side bar for the #1 half marathon training plan, the one I use!
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Beginner Half Marathon Tips : How To Breath

In this article we will be looking at the correct breathing techniques for when you are running your marathon. This is one of the hard things to do, as it has often caused cramps or stitches in runners when done incorrectly. At the same time, breathing is vital in order to suck in the oxygen that your body muscles need to continue running.

So you can breathe through your nose or through your mouth. The mouth allows you to get a lot more oxygen with each breath. The nose may have barriers sometimes such as times when you have a cold or some allergies. You can often breathe through your nose and your mouth at the same time, by simply inhaling and exhaling. You want deep inhales and long exhales and make sure to keep them controlled.

The breathing rythme should also increase as you start to pick up the pace and your body requires more energy. You should always maintain deep breaths to avoid hyperventilating that is caused by quick shallow breaths. You should also try to time your breathing with some other running activity, it is easier to do with your foot steps.  For example you can breath in and out every two steps that you make. If you are training with an ipod, you can use the beat of the song you are listening to, to time your breathing too.

Timing your breaths, will ultimately help you keep your breathing as you run the marathon consistent and controlled. You can then be sure that your body has all the oxygen it needs to enable you to continue running and prevent things like cramps and stitches that will require that you stop running and force you to quit the marathon.