Here's How To Make Running Easier, Even When You're Running Faster

Have you ever been out slogging through a run and someone goes bounding effortlessly past you as if gravity doesn’t apply to them? This is a particularly common scenario for beginner runners, and it can be frustrating. As you watch them go by, all you can think is how much more fun running would be if you could run like that. The good news is, you can. It will take some time, but follow these tips, and eventually, you’ll be joining the gazelle club.

RELATED: 6 ways to improve your fatigue resistance

Increase your mileage slowly

If you want to get better at running, you have to run often (at least three or four times a week, consistently), and the more you run, the better you get (to an extent). This means, if you want to improve, your first step should be to gradually increase your mileage over time to give your body a chance to adapt to the larger volume. As those adaptations take hold, you’ll notice running will start to feel easier. The best part about this is that the majority of that volume is just slow, easy mileage, so grab a friend, go on a social run and let running get easier as you go.

Hit the gym

Strength training will make your legs (and entire body) stronger, which will increase your power output when you run. In short? With the same effort, you’ll go farther and faster. Plyometrics (jumping drills), in particular, are great for developing strength and power.

Work on your form

The more efficient your stride, the faster you’ll be able to run with less effort. That said, most research agrees that trying to change your stride is the wrong approach, and will likely end up reducing your performance and could even set you up for injuries. To avoid this, work on strengthening muscles that are weak, improving your mobility and doing pre-run drills to improve your body mechanics and efficiency.

Run fast

A great way to make running feel easier is to do short intervals at a much faster pace than you would normally do on a longer run. This will improve your top-end speed, which will make your usual mileage-day pace feel much easier. A workout of 200-m intervals (or 30-40 second repeats, if you’re not on a track) are a great way to incorporate faster running into your program, as well as adding a few 20- to 30-second strides at the end of your easy runs.