Video: Straight Leg Run

Adam Hodges | June 8, 2012

The straight leg run is like the straight leg walk used during your dynamic warm up, only this time you are running. The straight leg run reinforces the important pawing motion practiced in the A-skip and B-skip. Start slowly and gradually increase your speed. Avoid the temptation to lean backwards—in other words, keep your upper body perpendicular to the ground as you run with straight legs. As your foot contacts the ground, finish with that same backwards pawing motion as you practiced in the other drills—squeeze the glutes and hamstrings as you pull back on the track.

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About Adam Hodges

Adam Hodges is a mountain endurance athlete and coach. He holds coaching certifications in running, ultrarunning, and triathlon with a specialization in sports psychology from the United Endurance Sports Coaching Academy (UESCA), as well as credentials from USA Triathlon (USAT) and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). He currently works with runners, ultrarunners, and multisport athletes, and has also coached high school cross country/track and masters swimming. As a USAT All-American triathlete during the 1990s, he competed in the ITU World Triathlon Championships, the ITU World Duathlon Championships, and the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii. As a masters runner, he won a series title in the XTERRA SoCal Trail Run Series. His current pursuits include mountain running, ultrarunning, skimo, and cross-country skiing. Check out his training plans and training guides to help you prepare for your next adventure.