What’s the difference between running ‘with your arms to the side’ and running ‘with you arms over your head’?
Posted by Ray Gill
Filed under Running Answers
What’s the difference between running ‘with your arms to the side’ and running ‘with you arms over your head’? I feel more tired when I run ‘with my hands over my head’. And our baseball coach used to make us run like that. Is it a better work out? Do you use more muscles?
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you shouldn’t run with your arms above your head, thats not natural and your coach should be fired
If you get winded after some intense running stopping and putting your hands on your head is better than doubling over to catch your breath but this sounds more like a baseball tactic. If you’re running the bases you’re more likely to block a play from behind you if you are running tall.
I can’t really see the point in that, but I’m a running coach, not a baseball coach.
It would be harder to run with your arms held up, your arms do play a big part in running, for balance, as a counterweight swung opposite to the legs, and can even be used to help you turn a tight corner, by swinging them across your chest.
You should ask your coach why he asked you to do that, if he’s a qualified coach, then I expect there is a valid reason.
Holding your arms over your head takes a lot more energy, and tires the arms sooner.
I am guessing your coach was trying to exercise or work your arms while also running.
I can not see any real advantage to doing this if his objective was cardiovascular conditioning.