How to Improve Your Running Heel Lift
One of the running technique cues runners sometimes struggle to master at first when changing their gait is the "foot pull". Mastering this movement will help you prevent a lazy heel lift.
Why Lift Your Heels When Running?
Picking your foot up beneath your hip as your leg swings forwards engages the hamstrings during mid-swing phase of your running gait. This reduces the load placed on your hip flexors, as they pull the swinging leg through on to the next stride.
Learn more about the different phases of running gait here: Running Gait Analysis: Distance Running Form & Gait Cycle Video
A common flaw in many runners is to run with a hip flexor dominant swing phase which results in overactivity in the hip flexors, specifically rectus femoris, as described here.
Often this looks like a "lazy heel lift" when running. As a consequence of this shuffle running technique, the swing leg acts as a longer lever, placing more strain and demand on the hip flexors.
Sometimes this results in more tension through the iliotibial band, and often affects pelvic posture.
This kind of muscular imbalance around the hips can also contribute to relative glute weakness or gluteal inhibition.
Learning to use your hamstrings to contribute more in the swing phase, by picking (or "pulling") the foot up under the body, rather than overly relying on the hip flexors, creates a more balanced and efficient distribution of the effort around the hip and knee.
Remember, the hamstrings are a very strong and powerful muscle group; anatomically they're aligned to be powerful, prime movers.
