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Client Sports Fitness Question of the Week

By My Fitness Hut | June 27, 2008

Starting today and every Friday thereafter, I will answer the client sports fitness question of the week! I just thought that if one person is asking a question, then there must be many others with the same question. And, real questions lead to real answers and real results. Call me or email with your sports fitness question! People want to know the answer!

Client Q: Do you need to run with "high knees" to improve speed?

Mark's A: No, don't run with high knees! This is one of the biggest myths out there. When you run with "high knees," you are using your hip flexors to lift your legs instead of your glutes. Your glutes can generate more force (and therefore more speed) than the smaller hip flexors. The knee should raise up to where the thigh is almost parallel to the ground. The foot then drops down below the knee (knee angle is about 90 degrees).

The heel needs to kick up high. The faster the running speed, the higher the heel on the rear foot should kick up. When the foot leaves the ground, it should follow a path straight up to the buttocks. It should not flail from side to side.

Read about correct running mechanics in this post.

Call me or email with your sports fitness question! People want to know the answer!

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