Kicking your legs higher when running involves moving your thigh and hip joint forward quickly, which allows your heel to snap up higher behind you.
The referenced video snippet emphasizes the importance of actively driving the thigh forward from the hip. This action will naturally result in the heel coming up higher behind you. The key isn't necessarily trying to kick the heel up higher, but rather focusing on efficient hip and thigh movement.
Here's a breakdown of factors contributing to a higher leg kick:
- Hip Flexor Strength and Mobility: Strong and flexible hip flexors allow for greater range of motion and power in bringing the thigh forward and upward.
- Core Stability: A strong core stabilizes the body, allowing for more efficient transfer of power from the lower body to the upper body, and enabling better hip flexion.
- Proper Form: Maintaining good posture and a slight forward lean helps to facilitate the forward drive of the thigh.
- Cadence: Increasing your step rate (cadence) can help to improve efficiency and potentially allow for a greater range of motion in the legs.
- Drills: Incorporating drills like high knees, A-skips, and butt kicks can improve hip flexor strength and mobility, leading to a higher leg kick.
In summary, improving your leg kick while running is about enhancing hip flexor strength and mobility, focusing on proper form and driving the thigh forward efficiently, rather than consciously trying to kick the heel higher.
