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Form and
Tempo |
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You need to
establish correct form before you start
adding weight. If you start with bad form,
it will become a habit and ultimately lead
to injuries. |
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During Strength
Training |
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When handling
any weight, even a light weight, you should
concentrate on the primary muscle or muscle
group you are using while lifting and lowering
the weight slowly and deliberately. |
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Lift the weight
slowly using a count of two, exhale, concentrate
on squeezing the muscle, then lower the
weight even more slowly using a count of
four while inhaling. |
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This extra concentration
and timing will more effectively build your
muscles than swinging the weights around
while your mind is thinking about your grocery
list or what assignments have to be done
at the office. |
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It is not a
sign of weakness if a weight is too heavy
for you to move with strict form. If you
have to decrease the weight in order to
lift it correctly, your muscles will respond
more effectively than if you have to swing
the weight up or use quick, momentum-derived
movements to complete the exercise. |
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During Cardio
Training |
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Your form is
largely dictated by your biomechanics: how
your feet hit the ground. If you swing one
arm wildly, it may be for natural reasons
to balance what your legs are doing. Nevertheless,
some basic statements can be made about
"good" form: |
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BODY:
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Run upright. Your
back should be straight, roughly at
a 90-degree angle to the ground. Ignore
anybody who tells you to "lean into
it," even when running uphill. |
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HEAD: |
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Look straight ahead.
Unless you are enjoying the scenery,
your eyes should be focused straight
down the road on a point moving about
10 meters in front of you. Try to
run in a straight line. |
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ARMS: |
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Swing your arms naturally.
The angle at the elbow between your
upper and lower arms should be about
90 degrees. Your hands should be loosely
cupped, about belly level. Let your
arms swing in rhythm with your legs.
The legs should control armswing,
not the other way around. |
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FOOTPLANT: |
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The most natural landing
is mid-foot, the ball of the foot
landing first, the heel contacting
the ground a fraction of a second
later. The toes push off a fraction
after that. Some runners land further
forward or backward, will do what feels natural to them.
Attempt to modify this natural gait
at your own risk. |
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