In the last two entries we've covered changing the timing of the armswing in relation to the legs, and changing the arm length in the backswing compared to the arm length on the front swing. This entry will cover the swing angle.
Most runners are told "Move your arms straight forward and backward parallel to the direction in which you are running." No explaination of why, or how this is beneficial, so in this final entry on arm swings, let's talk about my two favorite questions. "What does it do" and "When would I want that to happen?"
Go for a run and swing the arms straight forward and backward as recommended. Then begin to swing them inward toward the center line of your body. How is this changing your running form?
Try it while leading with your arms (like discussed in the first article on arms) and do it while changing arm length (like discussed in the second article on arms) and do it while both leading and changing the arm length. What does it do?
I've noticed that when I lead with the timing of my arms and begin to cross my body slightly with my armswing I experience a twisting motion in my torso along the transverse obliques. When I move my arms back to moving parallel to the direction I'm running (just straight forward and backward) this twisting goes away. So, when would I want to use this?
Apparently, according to my experience, leading with the timing of the arms while swinging the arms across the body and causing the torso to twist at the transverse obliques has a significant impact on uphill running. This includes stairs as well.
Go out an experiment with combinations of the three elements of the armswing.
1. Timing with the legs (leading, following, or at the same time)
2. Lengthening the arm on the backswing and shortening it on the front swing
3. Swinging them forward and backward or at an angle towards the center of the body.
This makes 8 different possible combinations of arm swings in relation to th legs and they all work best under slightly different circumstances.
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