Have you ever been out running and get to a hill and begin to lean into it as you run? I have on several occasions and have always been told to "lean into it." However, this may not be the correct thing to do. I recently read a tip in my current issue of Runner's World about why it's not always a good idea to lean forward when you run uphill.
Why you shouldn't lean into a hill
- Leaning forces your muscles to work harder
- Can cause excess stress on the lower back
- Can cause shorter strides which weakens the natural flexion action of the ankle
The best thing to do is to keep your posture perpendicular to the horizon. You can do this by running tall and keeping your head pointing straight up. The biggest concern is placing the excess stress onto the lower back. I know several people that deal with back pain on a daily basis. The last thing I want to do is put excess stress on my lower back so I plan on keeping this tip in mind.
image credit: jtriefen
