Running Lessons | Brent Scheibelhut

Running form cues

Simple reminders for feeling lighter, taller, and more connected.

These are not complicated technique rules. They are quick physical images to return to while running, especially when the stride starts getting heavy, overreached, or disconnected.

Use one cue at a time. If it helps the whole system organize, keep it. If it makes the run feel forced, let it go and come back to bounce.

Lesson cards

A few cues worth testing on easy runs.

The best cue is the one that changes the feeling immediately without needing much thought.

Pull back

Scraping gum off the bottom of your shoe

Let the foot pull back under you like you are scraping something sticky off the sole. It keeps the stride from reaching too far forward and helps the foot cycle behind you.

Tall lean

String pulling you upright at a slight angle

Feel tall through the crown of your head, then let the whole body lean slightly forward from the ankles. Upright does not mean stiff or vertical.

Brace outward

Front core brace; push out

Brace the front of the trunk as if you are gently pushing pressure outward. The goal is a stable middle that lets the legs move freely underneath you.

Spring

Feel bouncy; like you do at the start of a race

Look for that light, springy feeling before the effort gets serious. The body should feel ready to rebound, not heavy and stuck to the ground.

Back drives

Leverage your back, not your arms

Let the back and shoulder blades organize the arm swing. The arms should connect to the torso instead of muscling the motion by themselves.

One chain

Is the entire chain working together?

Check whether feet, hips, trunk, back, and arms feel like one system. Good running usually feels coordinated before it feels powerful.

How to use this

Pick one cue before the run starts.

Cycling through every cue at once turns running into a checklist. Choose the one that matches what feels off that day, then let the run tell you whether it works.

The question underneath every cue: does the stride feel more elastic and more connected?

Final reminder

Good running should feel like the whole body is helping, not like one part is trying to drag the rest along.